strife
C1/C2 (Upper Intermediate to Advanced)Formal, literary, journalistic. Rare in casual conversation.
Definition
Meaning
angry or violent disagreement; conflict
A state of prolonged, often bitter conflict or rivalry; sometimes extended metaphorically to intense internal struggle.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Implies prolonged, serious, and often bitter conflict, not a minor disagreement. Often has a somewhat archaic or elevated tone.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is very similar in both varieties. Slightly more common in British formal/written contexts.
Connotations
Connotes seriousness, often historical, political, or social conflict. Can imply tragic or destructive consequences.
Frequency
Low-frequency word in both dialects, primarily found in news, history, literature, and formal analysis.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[be] in strife (with)[plunge/throw/sink] into strifestrife between [parties]strife over [issue]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “strife-torn (region)”
- “to sow the seeds of strife”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used in HR/management contexts: 'The merger led to internal strife among departments.'
Academic
Common in history, political science, sociology: 'The decade was marked by social strife and economic decline.'
Everyday
Very rare in casual talk. Might be used for dramatic effect: 'All this strife over who loads the dishwasher!'
Technical
Used in conflict analysis, peace studies, and historical narratives as a technical term for sustained violent conflict below the level of declared war.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- N/A - 'strife' is a noun only.
American English
- N/A - 'strife' is a noun only.
adverb
British English
- N/A
American English
- N/A
adjective
British English
- N/A - adjectival form is 'strifeful' (archaic) or via compounds: 'strife-ridden'.
- The strife-torn province awaited aid.
American English
- N/A - adjectival form is 'strifeful' (archaic) or via compounds: 'strife-ridden'.
- The strife-torn region held fragile elections.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The two brothers often argue, but it's not serious strife.
- Too much strife in a family is not good.
- The political strife in the country worried its neighbours.
- Years of strife left the economy in ruins.
- The boardroom was gripped by internal strife over the new strategy.
- The historian's book chronicles the civil strife of the 17th century.
- The ideological strife within the party ultimately led to a permanent schism.
- His later poems are imbued with a profound sense of inner spiritual strife.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'STRIFE' as containing 'STRIFE' sounds like 'STRIFE' – a 'STRIFE' for survival, a fierce fight.
Conceptual Metaphor
STRIFE IS A STORM / STRIFE IS A DISEASE (e.g., 'a region plagued by strife', 'the winds of strife began to blow').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not a direct equivalent for 'спор' (argument/debate). Stronger. Closer to 'распря', 'конфликт', 'междоусобица', 'смута'.
Common Mistakes
- Using it for minor arguments ('We had a strife about what film to watch').
- Confusing it with 'strive' (verb).
- Using in an informal context where 'fight' or 'argument' is better.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'strife' most appropriately?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it's a mid-to-low frequency word used primarily in formal, literary, journalistic, or academic contexts. It sounds unnatural in casual conversation about minor disagreements.
'Strife' is a subset of 'conflict'. It implies bitter, prolonged, and often violent discord. 'Conflict' is broader and more neutral, covering everything from mild disagreement to war. 'Strife' has a more dramatic, weighty connotation.
No. The verb is 'to strive' (to try hard), which is a different word. A common error is confusing 'strife' (noun) with 'strive' (verb).
Typical contexts include news reports on civil wars or labour strikes ('civil strife', 'industrial strife'), history books, political analysis, and literature describing deep social or personal conflict.