# animus

/ˈænɪməs/ (US) · /ˈænɪməs/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/animus
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. hostility or ill will

noun · CEFR C1 · Formal

a strong feeling of dislike or hatred toward someone or something.

For teachers: a feeling of enmity, animosity, or ill will directed toward a person or entity.

- He felt a strong animus toward the company after they fired him unfairly.
- The public animus toward the new tax policy was so intense that the government was forced to reconsider its implementation.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'toward' or 'against'.

### 2. legal intention

noun · CEFR C2 · Formal · Technical

the specific intention or purpose behind a person's actions.

For teachers: the underlying intention, motivation, or spirit that governs a legal person's actions.

- The court looked for the animus behind the defendant's decision to leave.
- The prosecution struggled to prove the specific animus required to elevate the charge from negligence to a deliberate criminal act.

Usage: Commonly appears in Latin legal phrases like 'animus possidendi' (intention to possess).

### 3. psychology

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

the male part of a woman's personality.

For teachers: the masculine aspect of the feminine psyche or personality as defined in Jungian psychology.

- In her therapy session, she explored how her animus influenced her relationships.
- Jungian analysts suggest that a woman's animus often manifests in her dreams as a personified masculine figure.

Teaching tip: This is a highly specialized term in Jungian psychology; outside of this field, the word almost always means hostility.

## Examples

- The judge looked for evidence of animus in the defendant's actions.
- The prosecution argued that the defendant's actions were not random but were driven by a clear animus toward the victim.
- In legal philosophy, the distinction between an act of self-defense and one motivated by a pre-existing animus is often a matter of subjective interpretation by the jury.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.