anti-British
|an-ti-brit-ish|
/ˌæntiˈbrɪtɪʃ/
against Britain
Etymology
'anti-British' is formed from the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti', meaning 'against') combined with 'British' (from 'Britain').
'British' traces back to Latin 'Britannia' and the Old English word 'Bryttas' (the people of Britain); the prefix 'anti-' comes from Greek 'anti'. These elements combined in modern English to form the compound adjective 'anti-British'.
Initially the components simply meant 'against' + 'Britain'; over time the compound came to denote hostility, opposition, or negative attitudes specifically directed at Britain or British people/institutions.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an attitude, sentiment, or person exhibiting hostility or opposition to Britain or British interests (used as a noun, e.g., 'anti-British sentiment').
There was a rise in anti-British after the trade dispute.
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Adjective 1
hostile to or opposed to Britain, British people, or British institutions and culture.
The speech was criticized for its anti-British tone.
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Last updated: 2025/10/30 01:57