French word

hostilité

Pronunciation

IPA/ɔstilite/

Meaning

  • feminine nounhostility

Example

On sent l'hostilité dans sa voix.

You can sense the hostility in his voice.

Illustration for hostilité (hostility)

Core concept

A guarded room where words, gestures, and silence signal opposition.

Definition in French

Attitude ou climat de tension marqué par la volonté de s'opposer ou d'exclure quelqu'un, perceptible dans le ton, les gestes ou l'atmosphère d'un groupe.

Word origin

The French noun hostilité derives from Latin hostilitas, based on hostilis, hostile, which comes from hostis, enemy.

Usage tips

  • Hostilité is easily confused in writing with hospitalité, but hospitalité means hospitality and has the opposite social direction.

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