The animosity meaning is strong, active dislike or hostility toward someone, usually the kind that shows in words, looks or behaviour. Two neighbours who glare across the fence and refuse to share a parking spot feel animosity toward each other.
It is heavier than annoyance and more visible than a private grudge. People use it for feuds between rivals, tension between departments, bitterness after a divorce and long quarrels between communities or countries.
Entry at a glance
Meaning
Strong, active hostility or ill feelingPart of speech
Noun (plural: animosities)Pronunciation
an-uh-MOS-ih-teeOrigin
Latin animositas, "boldness, vehemence", from animus, "spirit, mind"Opposite
goodwill, friendship, harmony, affectionClose words
hostility, enmity, antagonism, ill will, rancourRegister
Fairly formal; common in news and essays
Animosity meaning and definition: what the feeling looks like
Animosity is a feeling, but a loud one. Where plain dislike can stay quiet, animosity tends to leak out: cold replies, sharp remarks, refusal to cooperate. It often grows from a specific cause, such as a betrayal, a lost contract or an old insult, and it can last for years.
The word works for individuals ("the animosity between the two coaches") and for groups ("animosity between rival fans"). It is usually mutual, but it can run in one direction: "She felt no animosity toward the driver who hit her car."
Animosity in everyday sentences
- The animosity between the two brothers began over their late father's shop.
- Despite the heated debate, the candidates shook hands without visible animosity.
- Old animosities flared up again when the boundary wall was rebuilt.
- I have no animosity toward my former manager; we simply wanted different things.
- The new captain tried to ease the animosity that had split the team into camps.
How to use the word
Animosity normally takes toward (or towards in British English) for one direction and between for two sides: animosity toward strangers, animosity between neighbours. You may also see against.
Common verbs: feel, harbour, bear, stir up, fuel, ease, overcome, put aside. Common adjectives: deep, bitter, personal, mutual, long-standing, open. The plural animosities refers to separate quarrels or grudges: "ancient animosities between the clans." English has no everyday verb or adjective built on it, so for those jobs people use hostile or bitter.
From courage to hostility: the history
The word reached English in the early 1400s from Old French animosité or straight from Latin animositas, which meant boldness or vehemence. That came from animosus, "spirited", built on animus, the Latin word for breath, life and spirit. At first animosity in English meant bravery or vigour. The modern sense of active hostile feeling appears around 1600, growing out of the idea of a fiery, heated spirit. The related word animus still carries both ideas: purpose and ill will.
Animosity beside similar words
| Word | Difference |
|---|---|
| animosity | Strong, active dislike, often shown openly |
| resentment | Bitterness about being treated unfairly; can stay hidden |
| contempt | Looking down on someone as worthless |
| malice | Wanting to cause harm; goes beyond dislike |
| enmity | A settled state of being enemies |
So you can feel animosity without wishing anyone harm. Once the wish to hurt appears, malice is the better word.
Where people meet this word
Reporters reach for animosity when describing feuds in sport, business rivalries and tension in politics. Historians write about animosity between empires or communities. Lawyers and judges sometimes mention it when a dispute is clearly personal. At home it fits family quarrels, and in psychology it keeps company with hostile and grudge. More words for emotions live in our section on people and feelings.
Spelling and sound traps
Write it with an o after the m: animosity, not animocity or animousity. The stress falls on the third syllable, MOS. Do not confuse it with animation or animal; they share the Latin root for breath and life but carry no hostile sense.
Frequently asked questions
How would you define animosity for a learner?
Call it a strong feeling of dislike or hostility toward someone, the kind that often shows in how you treat them. It is stronger than being annoyed and lasts longer than a passing bad mood.
Is animosity a negative word?
Yes, every use of it points to ill feeling. Saying "there is no animosity" is a common way to stress that a disagreement was not personal.
Can animosity be one sided?
Yes. One person can feel animosity toward another who feels nothing in return. When both sides share it, writers often say "mutual animosity".
What is the difference between animosity and hatred?
Hatred is the deepest form of dislike and can be quiet and total. Animosity is strong and active hostility, often tied to a specific conflict. Hatred is usually the heavier word.
How do you pronounce animosity?
Say an-uh-MOS-ih-tee, five syllables, with the stress on MOS.
What is the opposite of animosity?
Goodwill, friendliness, harmony or affection. Where there was once animosity, people speak of reconciliation when the bad feeling ends.