alterity: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1+Formal, Academic, Literary
Quick answer
What does “alterity” mean?
The state of being other or different.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The state of being other or different; otherness.
A philosophical and sociological concept denoting the recognition of the Other as fundamentally different from the Self, often with implications for identity, power dynamics, and ethics.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant difference in meaning or spelling. Usage is equally rare and specialised in both varieties.
Connotations
In both varieties, the word carries connotations of intellectual or theoretical discourse.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general corpora. It appears almost exclusively in academic or literary texts.
Grammar
How to Use “alterity” in a Sentence
the alterity of the Otherto confront/face/recognise/acknowledge alteritya politics/philosophy/ethics of alterityVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “alterity” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- 'Alter' is the related verb, but 'alterity' is only a noun. One might say, 'The text seeks to alter the reader's perception of alterity.'
American English
- 'Alter' is the related verb, but 'alterity' is only a noun. One might say, 'Her theory alters how we approach questions of alterity.'
adverb
British English
- Not applicable. No established adverb form.
American English
- Not applicable. No established adverb form.
adjective
British English
- The adjective is 'alteric' (very rare). More common is 'other' or 'different', as in 'alterity relations'.
American English
- The adjective is 'alteric' (very rare). More common is 'alterical' (non-standard) or simply 'other', as in 'alterity politics'.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
The primary domain. Used in philosophy (especially phenomenology, ethics), postcolonial studies, sociology, and literary theory to discuss difference and otherness.
Everyday
Almost never used.
Technical
Used as a precise term in the humanities and social sciences.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “alterity”
Strong
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “alterity”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “alterity”
- Using it as a synonym for 'alternative'. (Incorrect: 'We have several alterities to choose from.')
- Pronouncing it with stress on the first syllable (AL-terity).
- Using it in informal contexts where 'difference' would suffice.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It's the state of being 'other' or different. It's a more formal, philosophical word for 'otherness'.
No, it is a highly specialised academic term. You will not need it for daily life.
Yes, etymologically. Both come from the Latin 'alter' meaning 'other' (of two). 'Alter' means to change into something other; 'alterity' is the abstract state of being other.
It is neutral in itself but often has positive connotations in ethics, where respecting alterity is seen as a virtue. It can also have negative connotations when 'otherness' is seen as threatening.
Alterity is usually formal, academic, literary in register.
Alterity: in British English it is pronounced /ɒlˈtɛrɪti/, and in American English it is pronounced /ɔːlˈtɛrəti/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Not applicable. The word is not used in idiomatic expressions.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'ALTER' (to change) + 'ITY' (a state). Alterity is the state of being altered/changed into something 'other' or different.
Conceptual Metaphor
THE OTHER IS A SEPARATE SPHERE; ACKNOWLEDGING DIFFERENCE IS A JOURNEY.
Practice
Quiz
In which of the following contexts is the word 'alterity' MOST appropriately used?