anzus: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Very low (C2)Formal, geopolitical, academic, historical, journalistic
Quick answer
What does “anzus” mean?
A security treaty alliance between Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A security treaty alliance between Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.
An acronym referring to the trilateral defense agreement, formally the Security Treaty Between Australia, New Zealand, and the United States of America, signed in 1951. It is often used as a metonym for the collective security framework and geopolitical cooperation between these three nations.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning. Usage is almost exclusively in international relations/political contexts in both regions. British English might reference it more from an external, analytical perspective.
Connotations
Connotes Cold War-era Pacific security architecture, Western alliance solidarity, and sometimes U.S. hegemony. In New Zealand and Australia, it can carry connotations of national sovereignty debates.
Frequency
Extremely low frequency in general language. Higher frequency in specialized texts on international relations, defense studies, or modern history. Most commonly encountered in American, Australian, and New Zealand media/publishing.
Grammar
How to Use “anzus” in a Sentence
the ANZUS Treatymembers of ANZUSa cornerstone of ANZUSdebate over ANZUSVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “anzus” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- ANZUS commitments
- ANZUS-era policies
American English
- ANZUS obligations
- ANZUS-related discussions
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly in risk analysis concerning Asia-Pacific stability.
Academic
Common in political science, international relations, and modern history papers discussing Cold War alliances or Asia-Pacific security.
Everyday
Virtually never used. Would only appear in news coverage of major defense summits or historical documentaries.
Technical
Specific to defense policy, diplomatic history, and geopolitical analysis.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “anzus”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “anzus”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “anzus”
- Using 'ANZUS' as a common noun (e.g., 'an anzus'). It is always 'ANZUS' or 'the ANZUS Treaty'.
- Misspelling as 'ANZUC' or 'ANZU'.
- Pronouncing it as /ˈænzuːs/ (with a long 'u') instead of /ˈænzəs/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, though its operational nature has changed. The treaty remains in force. The alliance between the U.S. and Australia is highly active, while New Zealand's participation has been limited since the 1980s.
It is not a true 'stands for' acronym like NATO. It is formed from the initial letters of the three member countries: Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.
They are both Cold War-era collective security alliances, but ANZUS is a trilateral pact specific to the Pacific region and has a simpler structure compared to NATO's large multilateral framework.
It formally cemented the United States' security commitment to the South Pacific in the early Cold War, integrating Australia and New Zealand into a U.S.-led defense network and shaping regional geopolitics for decades.
A security treaty alliance between Australia, New Zealand, and the United States.
Anzus is usually formal, geopolitical, academic, historical, journalistic in register.
Anzus: in British English it is pronounced /ˈænzəs/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈænzəs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think: '**A**ustralia, **N**ew **Z**ealand, and the **US**' – the initials spell ANZUS.
Conceptual Metaphor
A SHIELD (for Pacific security); a PACT (binding agreement); a PILLAR (of Western defense strategy).
Practice
Quiz
ANZUS is primarily concerned with which area?