anti-litter
|an-ti-lit-ter|
🇺🇸
/ˌæntiˈlɪtər/
🇬🇧
/ˌæntiˈlɪtə/
against scattered trash
Etymology
'anti-litter' is a modern compound formed from the prefix 'anti-' (from Greek 'anti-' meaning 'against') + 'litter' (English noun meaning 'loose refuse or rubbish scattered about').
'litter' comes from Old French 'litiere' (bedding, straw spread on the floor) ultimately from Latin 'lectus' ('bed'); its meaning shifted from 'bedding' or 'material spread about' to 'things scattered (often rubbish)'. The compound 'anti-litter' arose in modern English in the 20th century as public campaigns and laws aimed at preventing the scattering of rubbish became common.
Initially, 'litter' referred to bedding or material spread on the ground; over time it came to mean 'trash scattered about.' The compound 'anti-litter' therefore developed the clear modern sense of 'against scattered trash or the act of littering.'
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
an action, campaign, law, measure, or movement that opposes or aims to prevent littering (often used attributively as part of phrases like 'anti-litter campaign').
Anti-litter measures such as fines and extra bins helped reduce street trash.
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Adjective 1
opposed to, designed to prevent, or intended to reduce littering; used to describe laws, campaigns, signs, or attitudes that discourage dropping trash in public places.
The city launched an anti-litter campaign to keep parks clean.
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Last updated: 2025/11/02 21:04