anti-american: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, political, journalistic
Quick answer
What does “anti-american” mean?
Opposed or hostile to the United States, its government, its policies, or its culture.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Opposed or hostile to the United States, its government, its policies, or its culture.
Can refer to sentiments, policies, actions, literature, or rhetoric that are critical of or designed to counter American influence, interests, or ideals. Sometimes used more broadly for things contrary to perceived American values (e.g., unpatriotic within a US context).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
More frequent in American political discourse, often with a stronger negative charge. In British English, it's more descriptive of foreign policy stance.
Connotations
US: Highly charged, often implying disloyalty or radical opposition. UK: More neutral descriptor of a political position, though still critical.
Frequency
Higher frequency in US media and political commentary.
Grammar
How to Use “anti-american” in a Sentence
[anti-American] + nounverb + [anti-American] (e.g., deemed anti-American)preposition + [anti-American] (e.g., accused of being anti-American)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “anti-american” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The editorial was criticised for its anti-American tone.
- There were fears of anti-American reprisals after the policy announcement.
American English
- The senator dismissed the proposal as anti-American and dangerous.
- He was accused of spreading anti-American propaganda.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in contexts like 'anti-American trade policies' or 'facing anti-American boycotts'.
Academic
Used in political science, international relations, and cultural studies to describe ideologies or movements.
Everyday
Used in news discussions; can be a strong accusation in casual US political talk.
Technical
Not technical; a political label.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “anti-american”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “anti-american”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “anti-american”
- Writing as one word 'antiamerican' (should be hyphenated). Using it to mean simply 'not from America'. Confusing it with 'non-American'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is inherently negative as it describes opposition or hostility. However, whether its *use* is pejorative depends on context. A critic may embrace it, while an accuser uses it as a slur.
'Anti-American' describes active opposition from any source (often outside the US). 'Un-American' is used within the US to describe conduct or ideas perceived as contrary to US values, often in a political smear.
Yes, when used as a compound adjective before a noun (anti-American policies). It may sometimes be seen as 'anti-Americanism' (noun) or unhyphenated in open form (e.g., 'He is anti American'), but hyphenation is the strongly preferred standard.
Yes. It commonly modifies abstract nouns like 'sentiment', 'rhetoric', or 'policy', and concrete nouns like 'demonstration' or 'graffiti'.
Opposed or hostile to the United States, its government, its policies, or its culture.
Anti-american is usually formal, political, journalistic in register.
Anti-american: in British English it is pronounced /ˌæn.ti.əˈmer.ɪ.kən/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌæn.taɪ.əˈmer.ɪ.kən/ or /ˌæn.t̬i.əˈmer.ɪ.kən/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: ANTI-bodies fight foreign agents; ANTI-American describes fighting or opposing American influence.
Conceptual Metaphor
OPPOSITION IS WAR / DISEASE (e.g., 'wave of anti-Americanism', 'virus of anti-American sentiment').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'anti-American' LEAST likely to be used?