hostility
Americannoun
-
hostilities
plural
noun
-
enmity or antagonism
-
an act expressing enmity or opposition
-
(plural) fighting; warfare
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of hostility
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English hostilite, from Latin hostīlitās, from hostīl(is) ( see hostile) + -itās -ity
Explanation
Hostility is the state of ill will and bad feeling. If a teacher embarrasses you in front of the whole class, you will probably regard him or her with hostility for the remainder of the school year. Hostility can be used to describe aggressive relations between two countries as well as between people. The issue of territorial borders can often cause hostility between neighboring countries. If actual fighting breaks out, use the word hostilities to refer to the violent actions between them. The ordinary citizens of the countries involved will look forward to the end of hostilities when the two governments are able to work together for peace.
Vocabulary lists containing hostility
"To Kill a Mockingbird" by Harper Lee, Chapters 16–19
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Franklin D. Roosevelt, "A Date That Will Live In Infamy" (1941)
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Maus I: My Father Bleeds History
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Their cases differ in important respects, but together they raise questions about the relationship between presidential hostility and the exercise of state power.
From Salon ● Oct. 17, 2026
Though a white-ball tour will not have the same profile as the Ashes, the tourists can still expect a degree of hostility from the home fans.
From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2026
The man accused of murdering Ann Widdecombe had a "particular hostility to Reform", prosecutors alleged on Friday.
From BBC ● Oct. 9, 2026
"That hostility did not simply disappear afterwards," Khoo Ying Hooi, an associate professor at Universiti Malaya, told AFP.
From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026
But in her resolute pose and raised arms, there existed an undeniable hostility, as if she were preparing to march into battle.
From "The City Beautiful" by Aden Polydoros
The renewed hostilities come as Saudi Arabia has been battling an economic slowdown and rolling back some of its flashier investments.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026
On the downside, spending also got a boost from an increase in gas prices after the U.S. and Iran resumed hostilities.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 30, 2026
Iran said it had raised reopening the strait and ending hostilities during negotiations on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly in New York this past week.
From BBC ● Sep. 27, 2026
"I want to emphasise once again: we are not preparing for any kind of hostilities with Europe," he added.
From Barron's ● Sep. 25, 2026
In February of 1800, Adams signed the Treaty of Mortefontaine, officially ending hostilities with France.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
