hostility
Americannoun
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Franklin D. Roosevelt, "A Date That Will Live In Infamy" (1941)
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Maus I: My Father Bleeds History
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
That can sound especially appealing as hyperscalers across the U.S. face increasing hostility over the construction of new data centers required to fuel the creation and deployment of powerful AI models.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 27, 2026
And the biggest plague, the one that never seems to go away, is deep-seated resentment for, often outright hostility to, mothers and the work of parenting.
From Salon • Jun. 24, 2026
The protests against graduation speakers in the US this year showed the broader unease on campuses about AI: Speakers who mention AI are increasingly being met with hostility from students.
From BBC • Jun. 15, 2026
As you said, it’s all about hostility to Congress.
From Slate • Jun. 11, 2026
When he got over the shock of Ann’s hostility, he became indignant at being treated so dismissively.
From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson
Definitions 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.
