anti-hero
|an-ti-he-ro|
🇺🇸
/ˌæn.tiˈhɪə.roʊ/
🇬🇧
/ˌæn.tiˈhɪə.rəʊ/
flawed or nontraditional hero
Etymology
'anti-hero' is formed from the Greek prefix 'anti-' meaning 'against' and 'hero', from Greek 'hērōs' (ἥρως) meaning 'hero' or 'demigod'.
'anti-' (Greek) + 'hero' (via Greek hērōs → Latin/Old French → Middle English 'hero') combined in modern European languages (e.g., French 'anti-héros') and was adopted into English as 'anti-hero' in the 19th century.
Originally used to label characters opposed to or lacking conventional heroic traits; over time it has come to denote protagonists who are morally complex or flawed but remain central figures.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a main character in a story who lacks the traditional qualities of a hero (such as idealism, courage, or morality) but is nevertheless the protagonist.
The novel's anti-hero is a cynical detective who breaks the rules to solve crimes.
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Noun 2
a protagonist whose actions, morals, or personality are morally ambiguous or unconventional, often causing the audience to both sympathize with and question them.
In many modern films the lead is an anti-hero who blurs the line between right and wrong.
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Last updated: 2025/10/31 05:49