anglomania: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2formal, academic, historical
Quick answer
What does “anglomania” mean?
An excessive or intense enthusiasm for England and English customs, culture, or styles.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An excessive or intense enthusiasm for England and English customs, culture, or styles.
A cultural phenomenon characterized by the uncritical adoption or imitation of English fashions, manners, or institutions, often by non-English societies or individuals, typically viewed as faddish or exaggerated.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical, though more likely to appear in British historical or cultural commentary about continental Europe.
Connotations
In both varieties, it implies an external perspective (non-British people's admiration for Britain). For Britons, using it might involve self-deprecating humour or mild bewilderment.
Frequency
Very low frequency in both. Slightly more likely in UK academic/historical texts discussing European cultural history.
Grammar
How to Use “anglomania” in a Sentence
[Subject] exhibits anglomania.A wave of anglomania swept [Location/Group].[Person] is accused of anglomania.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “anglomania” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The upper classes were anglomaniacs, aping London fashions.
American English
- The trendy quarter anglomaniaed, importing every British pop band they could find.
adverb
British English
- [No standard adverbial form]
American English
- [No standard adverbial form]
adjective
British English
- His anglomaniac tendencies were evident in his tailored Savile Row suits.
American English
- The store catered to an anglomaniac clientele with its Union Jack memorabilia.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in analyses of consumer trends or branding in non-English markets.
Academic
Used in historical, sociological, or cultural studies to describe periods of English cultural influence abroad.
Everyday
Virtually never used in casual conversation.
Technical
Not a technical term.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “anglomania”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “anglomania”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “anglomania”
- Misspelling as 'Anglomania' (capitalized when not sentence-initial).
- Confusing it with 'Anglophilia' (the latter lacks the '-mania' intensity).
- Using it to describe British people's enthusiasm for their own culture (incorrect; it is an external phenomenon).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is generally neutral to mildly pejorative. It describes an intense enthusiasm, which can be viewed critically as excessive, imitative, or a passing fad.
No, by definition. Anglomania refers to the enthusiasm of non-British people or cultures for England. A British person's pride in their culture would be described differently (e.g., patriotism, nationalism).
Anglophilia is a more general and sustained admiration for England and English things. Anglomania implies a stronger, more obsessive, and often trend-driven intensity, closer to a 'craze'.
No, it is a low-frequency word primarily found in historical, academic, or high-cultural commentary. It is not part of everyday vocabulary.
An excessive or intense enthusiasm for England and English customs, culture, or styles.
Anglomania is usually formal, academic, historical in register.
Anglomania: in British English it is pronounced /ˌæŋ.ɡləʊˈmeɪ.ni.ə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌæŋ.ɡloʊˈmeɪ.ni.ə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[None directly associated]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'ANGLO' (English) + 'MANIA' (craze) = a craze for English things.
Conceptual Metaphor
CULTURAL ADMIRATION IS A DISEASE/MANIA (cf. 'Beatlemania').
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary connotation of 'anglomania'?