Word
enmity
Phoneticsen·mi·ty, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈɛnməti/
UK/ˈɛnmɪti/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. a feeling of strong hate or being an enemy toward someone. It is a deep, long-lasting dislike that often leads to conflict.
n. a state or feeling of active opposition or hostility. Refers to a deep-seated animosity that typically exists between two parties over a long period.
Examples
“There is a long history of enmity between the two families.”
“The decades of political enmity made it nearly impossible for the two leaders to reach a peace agreement.”
“The treaty was designed to end centuries of regional enmity, yet underlying tensions remained visible in the way the borders were eventually drawn.”
Examples
simple
“There is a long history of enmity between the two families.”
contextual
“The decades of political enmity made it nearly impossible for the two leaders to reach a peace agreement.”
complex
“The treaty was designed to end centuries of regional enmity, yet underlying tensions remained visible in the way the borders were eventually drawn.”
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the general state of hostility; countable when referring to specific instances or historical periods of conflict.
Real-World Examples
“Photograph: Anadolu/Getty Images Eritrea, which gained independence from Ethiopia in 1993, has a long enmity with the TPLF, which ruled Ethiopia from 1991 to 2018.” “The stand-off highlights the historic enmity between the two sides.” Etymology
From Middle English enemyte, from Old French enemisté, ennemistié, from Late Latin, Vulgar Latin inimīcitās, inimīcitātem, from Latin inimīcus (“enemy”); cognates: French inimitié, Portuguese inimizade, Spanish enemistad. Equivalent to enemy + -ity.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- 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
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/enmity