animus
C1Formal, Literary
Definition
Meaning
A strong feeling of dislike, hatred, or hostility.
A motivating force or underlying purpose; in Jungian psychology, the masculine part of a woman's personality.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily denotes a deep-seated, often prejudiced hostility. The psychological meaning is specialized and less common in general usage.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The word is used comparably in both varieties.
Connotations
Conveys a formal, almost clinical tone when describing hostility. Suggests a deep, principled, or irrational hatred rather than a fleeting anger.
Frequency
Low frequency in everyday speech in both regions. More common in formal writing, journalism, and academic contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
animus against/towards [person/group]to harbour/have/feel animuswith animusVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “(to do something) with animus”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare. Might appear in analyses of corporate disputes or hostile takeovers, e.g., 'The takeover bid was driven more by personal animus than sound strategy.'
Academic
Used in political science, history, sociology, and psychology texts to describe group conflicts or ideological hatred.
Everyday
Very rare in casual conversation. Would sound formal or deliberately elevated.
Technical
Specific, defined use in Jungian analytical psychology.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- His animus towards his neighbour was clear to everyone.
- The critic's review was filled with an unusual personal animus against the young author.
- She couldn't explain the deep animus she felt towards the proposed policy.
- The historical animus between the two tribes has fuelled conflicts for generations.
- His actions seemed less motivated by principle than by a purely personal animus.
- In her analysis, she explored the cultural animus against outsiders that pervaded the society.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: 'ANIMUS' sounds like 'ENEMY-US'. An enemy creates a feeling of strong animus between us.
Conceptual Metaphor
HATRED IS A POSSESSION (to harbour animus), HATRED IS A FORCE (animus drove his actions).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with Russian 'анимус' (which is a direct borrowing and rare). The closest common Russian equivalent is 'ненависть' or 'враждебность', but 'animus' implies a more formal, deep-seated, and often irrational quality.
Common Mistakes
- Using it as a synonym for simple 'anger'. Confusing it with 'animosity' (very close, but 'animus' can feel more intellectualized). Misspelling as 'animous'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'animus' LEAST likely to be used appropriately?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are very close synonyms. 'Animus' often implies a more deep-seated, potentially irrational, and sometimes more formal or intellectualised hatred. 'Animosity' might be used for more general, active ill-will.
Almost never in modern usage. Its core meaning is hostile intent. The archaic meaning of 'spirit' or 'courage' is obsolete.
Yes, etymologically. All come from the Latin 'anima' meaning 'soul, breath, life'. 'Animus' in Latin meant 'mind, spirit, courage', which evolved into the negative sense of 'hostile spirit'.
Use it as a singular noun, typically followed by 'against' or 'towards'. E.g., 'He harboured a deep animus towards his predecessor.' It fits formal contexts describing profound hostility.