Hostility

Podcast 1 · Introduction

Hostility

A documentary-style narration: origin, meaning, and feel.

Part of speech

noun

Pronunciation

hos-TIL-ih-tee  /hɒˈstɪlɪti/

Definition

Hostile behaviour or attitudes; active opposition or resistance; (hostilities, plural) acts of warfare or armed conflict.

Plain meaning

Hostility is the quality of being hostile — unfriendly, aggressive, or strongly opposed. You can show hostility toward someone through words, actions, or attitude. In the plural, hostilities means armed conflict or acts of war: the ceasefire ended the hostilities.

Register

Formal to neutral. The singular hostility is used in psychological, social, and everyday contexts. The plural hostilities is formal, legal, and military — primarily diplomatic and journalistic usage for armed conflict.