Word
aversion
Phoneticsaver·sion
US/əˈvɝʒən/
UK/ɐvˈɜːʃən/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. a strong feeling of not liking something and wanting to avoid it. You use this when you really do not want to do or see something.
n. a strong feeling of dislike or opposition toward something, often resulting in avoidance. Frequently followed by the preposition 'to'.
Examples
“He has a strong aversion to public speaking.”
“Many people develop a temporary aversion to certain foods after experiencing a bout of food poisoning.”
“Her deep-seated aversion to risk-taking prevented the company from expanding into emerging markets, despite the potential for significant long-term growth.”
Examples
simple
“He has a strong aversion to public speaking.”
contextual
“Many people develop a temporary aversion to certain foods after experiencing a bout of food poisoning.”
complex
“Her deep-seated aversion to risk-taking prevented the company from expanding into emerging markets, despite the potential for significant long-term growth.”
Usage
Commonly takes the preposition 'to' or 'towards'.
Pitfall
an aversion for spiders
an aversion to spiders
While 'for' is occasionally seen, 'to' is the standard preposition used with this noun.
Real-World Examples
“Participants opting for larger investment amounts generally displayed higher levels of financial literacy, somewhat greater financial experience and lower risk aversion.” “This very aversion to grief, in fact, gives musicals a kind of camouflaged protection for grief.” Etymology
Learned borrowing from Latin āversiō, āversiōnem. Doublet of aversio.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/aversion