hostility
B2Formal to Neutral
Definition
Meaning
Unfriendly or aggressive feelings or behaviour; antagonism.
Opposition or resistance to an idea, plan, or feeling; the state of being at war or engaged in armed conflict.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Can refer to both an emotional state (feeling) and a state of affairs (conflict). Often used in plural ('hostilities') to mean acts of warfare.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in meaning or usage. The plural 'hostilities' (meaning acts of war) is equally common in both.
Connotations
Identical connotations of aggression, antagonism, or war.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in American news/political discourse, but broadly comparable.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
hostility to/toward(s) [someone/something]hostility between [two parties]hostility from [someone]hostility over [an issue]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “a ceasefire in the hostilities”
- “suspend hostilities”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to resistance in negotiations, unfriendly takeovers, or antagonistic workplace relations. E.g., 'The merger proposal was met with hostility from the board.'
Academic
Used in social sciences to describe intergroup conflict, societal tensions, or theoretical opposition. E.g., 'The study examined the roots of ethnic hostility.'
Everyday
Describes personal animosity, arguments, or a generally unfriendly atmosphere. E.g., 'I could sense the hostility between the two neighbours.'
Technical
In military/political contexts, refers to a state of war or active fighting. E.g., 'The treaty ended all hostilities in the region.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The union will likely hostilise the new policy.
- The community felt the newcomers were being hostilised.
American English
- The union will likely hostile the new policy.
- The community felt the newcomers were being hostiled.
adverb
British English
- He stared hostily across the room.
- She responded hostily to the suggestion.
American English
- He stared hostilely across the room.
- She responded hostilely to the suggestion.
adjective
British English
- The crowd grew increasingly hostile.
- They operate in a hostile environment.
American English
- The crowd grew increasingly hostile.
- They operate in a hostile takeover bid.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The two dogs showed hostility.
- I felt some hostility in the room.
- There is a lot of public hostility towards the new law.
- Her comments caused hostility among the team members.
- The negotiations broke down due to the mutual hostility between the companies.
- He couldn't hide his hostility towards his rival.
- The historical roots of the ethnic hostility in the region are complex.
- The report detailed the open hostility faced by whistleblowers within the organisation.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a HOSTILE hostel – an inn where the guests are so unfriendly and aggressive that you feel the atmosphere of HOSTILITY.
Conceptual Metaphor
HOSTILITY IS A FORCE (e.g., 'a wave of hostility', 'the force of their hostility'); HOSTILITY IS HEAT/COLD (e.g., 'a frosty hostility', 'hostility simmered').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'гостеприимство' (hospitality) – they are 'false friends'.
- Russian 'враждебность' covers the core meaning well.
- The plural 'hostilities' translates as 'военные действия', not a plural of 'враждебность'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'hostility' as a countable noun for a single act (e.g., 'He made a hostility' – INCORRECT; use 'a hostile act').
- Confusing spelling with 'hospitality'.
- Using wrong preposition: 'hostility against' is less common than 'hostility toward(s)/to'.
Practice
Quiz
What does the plural noun 'hostilities' specifically refer to?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily uncountable (e.g., 'There was hostility in the air'). The plural form 'hostilities' is used with a specific meaning: 'acts of warfare'.
'Hostility' is the unfriendly feeling or attitude. 'Aggression' is the behaviour that often, but not always, results from that feeling. Hostility can be passive.
Almost never. It is inherently negative, describing antagonism. In rare ironic or marketing contexts ('hostile takeover' is neutral in finance), it loses its emotional charge but remains oppositional.
'toward(s)' and 'to' are most common (e.g., hostility toward immigrants). 'Between' is used for mutual feeling, and 'from' for its source.