meanness
C1Formal, Literary. More common in written analysis or criticism than casual speech.
Definition
Meaning
The quality or state of being unkind, cruel, or lacking generosity; small-minded spitefulness.
Can refer to pettiness, stinginess, or the condition of being of poor quality, inferior, or insignificant.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily an abstract noun denoting a character trait. Often implies a habitual, ingrained quality rather than a single act.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant spelling or grammatical differences. Slight preference in UK English for 'mean'/'meanness' in the sense of 'stingy'.
Connotations
In both varieties, strongly negative, associated with moral and character judgment.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both varieties, perhaps slightly higher in UK English corpus data.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
the meanness of [person/act][person]'s meannessmeanness towards/toward [person]meanness in [action/speech]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A streak of meanness”
- “Mean-spirited (related adjective)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Rare; might describe cut-throat or unethical competitive practices.
Academic
Used in literary criticism, psychology, sociology, and ethics to analyse character or social behaviour.
Everyday
Used to criticise someone's unkind or stingy behaviour.
Technical
Not a technical term.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- He doesn't mean to be rude; it's just his manner.
- What do you mean by that remark?
American English
- I didn't mean to hurt your feelings.
- This new policy means big changes for us.
adverb
British English
- He played mean guitar in the band.
- (Informal) She's doing meanly for herself after the promotion.
American English
- He's a mean-spirited competitor.
- (Informal) She can throw a fastball mean.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- His meanness made the other children sad.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'MEAN' + 'NESS' – the state (-ness) of being mean. A mean person causes distress.
Conceptual Metaphor
MEANNESS IS A POISON / A STAIN (on one's character).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque from Russian 'мелочность' (petitness) as the sole meaning. 'Meanness' is more about malice than triviality.
- Do not confuse with 'meaning' (значение).
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'meaness' (missing an 'n').
- Using it to describe an object's poor quality in modern contexts (archaic).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'meanness' LEAST likely to be used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Not exactly. 'Stinginess' relates specifically to money and possessions. 'Meanness' is broader, covering unkindness, spite, and malice, though it can include stinginess.
Historically, yes (e.g., 'the meanness of his dwelling'). In modern English, this is archaic. The word now almost exclusively describes human character or behaviour.
Cruelty implies causing serious pain or suffering and is stronger. Meanness often involves smaller, spiteful acts, pettiness, and unkindness, though it can overlap with cruelty.
It's a standard word, but more common in written English (literature, journalism, academic writing) than in everyday casual conversation, where people might simply say 'being mean'.