hostility
/hɒˈstɪlɪti/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Also seen as: hostilities
Sense 1
Meaning · English
The state of being hostile.
Noun
Examples
My resentment and anger towards you caused hostility and a division between us.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
A hostile action, especially a military action. See hostilities for specific plural definition.
Noun
Examples
As the revivals died down in the 1740s, the revivalist camp made concessions to their opponents, admonished prorevivalists who continued with the hostilities, and generally sought to heal divisions.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “hostility” mean?
The state of being hostile.
Is “hostility” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.