anglophobia: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Academic, Political Discourse
Quick answer
What does “anglophobia” mean?
A strong dislike, fear, or prejudice against England, English people, or English culture.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A strong dislike, fear, or prejudice against England, English people, or English culture.
It can also refer to opposition to, or suspicion of, English political influence, especially in historical contexts like the British Empire or contemporary British foreign policy. Can sometimes be used broadly (and imprecisely) to mean dislike of the UK in general, though the core meaning is England-specific.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More likely to appear in political analysis in the UK regarding internal UK relations (e.g., Scotland, Ireland) or EU debates. In the US, it's more likely in academic/historical contexts.
Connotations
In the UK, it often has serious political and historical weight, relating to colonialism, imperialism, or intra-UK tensions. In the US, it may be used more academically to describe historical attitudes (e.g., in post-colonial studies).
Frequency
Extremely rare in everyday speech in both varieties. Higher relative frequency in UK political journalism and history texts.
Grammar
How to Use “anglophobia” in a Sentence
[Expression of] Anglophobia (towards)Anglophobia [is/was] widespread into be accused of AnglophobiaVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “anglophobia” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The commentator was accused of anglophobising the debate.
- (Note: 'to anglophobe' is non-standard; 'to exhibit Anglophobia' is preferred.)
American English
- The pamphlet sought to anglophobize the immigrant population. (Non-standard/rare)
adverb
British English
- He wrote anglophobically about the period.
- (Extremely rare usage.)
American English
- The policy was interpreted anglophobically by certain groups. (Extremely rare.)
adjective
British English
- He held deeply anglophobic views.
- The article was criticised for its anglophobic undertones.
American English
- The historian identified an anglophobic streak in the early political writings.
- Accusations of an anglophobic bias were levelled at the textbook.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Used in history, political science, sociology, and cultural studies to analyze historical or contemporary attitudes.
Everyday
Extremely rare; would sound overly formal or technical.
Technical
A technical term in the social sciences and political commentary.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “anglophobia”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “anglophobia”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “anglophobia”
- Using it to mean 'dislike of the UK/Britain' (though common, it's technically imprecise).
- Using it for mild personal dislike (e.g., 'His Anglophobia means he won't drink tea').
- Confusing it with 'xenophobia' (which is general, not England-specific).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not precisely. 'Anglophobia' specifically targets England and the English. 'Anti-British' sentiment could include Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. The terms are often conflated but have different scopes.
It is generally classified as a form of prejudice or ethnic/ national prejudice. Whether it qualifies as 'racism' depends on definitions, as 'English' is a nationality/ethnicity, not a race in the biological sense, but the hostility functions similarly to racial prejudice.
Yes, the opposite is 'Anglophilia', which means a strong admiration or enthusiasm for England and English things.
Potentially, yes, if it is an intense, prejudiced hostility. However, simple political opposition (e.g., to Westminster policies) or rivalry is not necessarily Anglophobia. The term implies an irrational or deep-seated aversion beyond normal political disagreement.
A strong dislike, fear, or prejudice against England, English people, or English culture.
Anglophobia is usually formal, academic, political discourse in register.
Anglophobia: in British English it is pronounced /ˌæŋ.ɡləʊˈfəʊ.bi.ə/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌæŋ.ɡloʊˈfoʊ.bi.ə/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “No specific idioms. The word itself functions as a conceptual label.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'ANGLO' (relating to England) + 'PHOBIA' (fear/aversion) = fear/aversion of England.
Conceptual Metaphor
A DISEASE/POISON (something that infects a population); A FORCE (something that drives political action).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'Anglophobia' most precisely used?