antisocial: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal / Academic / Clinical
Quick answer
What does “antisocial” mean?
contrary to or harmful to the harmony of society.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
contrary to or harmful to the harmony of society; avoiding the company of others.
In psychology/psychiatry: associated with a persistent pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others. Informally: disruptive or inconsiderate behavior.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In UK English, 'antisocial' is frequently used in public discourse, e.g., 'antisocial behaviour order' (ASBO). In US English, the clinical/psychological term 'antisocial personality disorder' is more common. The spelling 'antisocial' is standard in both; 'anti-social' with a hyphen is a less common variant.
Connotations
UK: Strongly associated with public nuisance, low-level crime, and neighbour disputes. US: More often associated with clinical psychology and serious personality disorders.
Frequency
Higher frequency in UK English in legal and social policy contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “antisocial” in a Sentence
Be + antisocial (He is antisocial)Find + something/someone + antisocial (I find that behaviour antisocial)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “antisocial” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A - No verb form in standard use.
American English
- N/A - No verb form in standard use.
adverb
British English
- He behaved quite antisocially at the gathering.
American English
- She acted antisocially, refusing to speak to anyone.
adjective
British English
- The council issued an order against his antisocial conduct.
- Working nights is a bit antisocial, isn't it?
American English
- The psychiatrist assessed him for antisocial traits.
- It's considered antisocial to blast music so late.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. May describe an employee who undermines teamwork or works disruptive hours.
Academic
Common in psychology, sociology, and criminology literature.
Everyday
Used to describe someone who avoids parties or is rude in public.
Technical
Clinical diagnosis: Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD).
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “antisocial”
- Using 'unsocial' instead of 'unsociable' or 'antisocial'. 'Unsocial' is non-standard.
- Confusing 'antisocial' (harmful) with 'asocial' (simply not social).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Unsocial' is rarely correct. 'Antisocial' implies hostility or harm to society. 'Unsociable' simply means not fond of company, without the harmful connotation.
In its primary meanings (harmful to society, clinical disorder), yes. Describing 'antisocial hours' for work is neutral, though it acknowledges a negative social impact.
Rarely in standard English. The noun form is 'antisocial person' or, clinically, 'a person with ASPD'. 'An antisocial' is colloquial and non-standard.
In British English: /ˌæn.tiˈsəʊ.ʃəl/. In American English: /ˌæn.t̬iˈsoʊ.ʃəl/. The main difference is the vowel in the second syllable ('səʊ' vs. 'soʊ') and the 't' sound.
contrary to or harmful to the harmony of society.
Antisocial is usually formal / academic / clinical in register.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “To keep antisocial hours (to work very late or very early)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think ANTI-SOCIAL: 'Anti' (against) + 'Social' (community). It works against social harmony.
Conceptual Metaphor
SOCIAL BOND AS FABRIC / SOCIETY AS BODY (Antisocial behaviour is a 'tear' in the social fabric or a 'disease' in the social body).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following best describes the core meaning of 'antisocial' in a clinical context?