anti

1.adjectiveB2

Definition

feeling or showing opposition to something already known from the conversation, used alone after 'be' with no following noun.

Example

Most of the village is firmly anti when it comes to the new highway plan.

predicative: be + anti (no following noun)

Tomás used to support the merger, but after seeing the budget he is now strongly anti.

intensifier: strongly anti

Common collocations

firmly anti
strongly anti
very anti
be anti about something

Synonyms

opposed
more formal; usually followed by 'to'
against
preposition or adverb, more neutral and far more common
hostile
stronger; suggests open dislike, not just disagreement

Antonyms

pro
informal opposite — in favour of something
supportive
actively helping rather than just agreeing

Grammar Patterns

be anti

be very/strongly anti

Usage Note

Used predicatively only (after 'be', 'feel', 'sound'); never directly before a noun. Typically informal — in formal writing, prefer 'opposed' or 'against'.

Common Mistakes

They are an anti family.

That family is very anti.

'anti' as an adjective stands alone after 'be'; it does not modify a noun directly.

1.prefixB2

Definition

added to a word to form a new word meaning that someone is hostile to, or campaigns against, the group, belief, or person named.

Example

The journalist called the new law deeply anti-immigrant and warned families to read it carefully.

anti- + noun naming a group

Maria grew up in an anti-monarchy household where republic posters covered the kitchen walls.

anti- + ideology

Common collocations

anti-government
anti-war
anti-immigrant
anti-American
anti-monarchy

Synonyms

counter-
less personal; suggests responding to rather than hating

Antonyms

pro-
supports the same group or belief

Grammar Patterns

anti- + noun (group, ideology, person)

anti- + adjective

Usage Note

Almost always written with a hyphen. Distinguish from sense 2 (opposite version of) and sense 3 (preventing): this sense names a target of hostility — a group, belief, country, or activity people campaign against.

Common Mistakes

an antiwar protest' (in British style guides).

an anti-war protest.

keep the hyphen, especially before vowels and proper nouns.

2.prefixC1

Definition

added to a word to name a version of something that has the opposite qualities, role, or purpose from the usual one.

Example

Critics described the film's quiet, kind lead as a true anti-hero of modern cinema.

anti- + noun creates opposite-kind term

Physicists at CERN trapped a tiny cloud of antimatter for nearly twenty minutes.

scientific use: antimatter

Common collocations

anti-hero
anti-matter
anti-particle
anti-climax

Synonyms

counter-
often interchangeable: counter-example, anti-example
non-
weaker; means 'not', not 'opposite type of'

Grammar Patterns

anti- + noun (creates an opposite-kind noun)

Usage Note

Different from sense 1: here 'anti-' does not mean 'hostile to' but 'a reversed kind of'. An anti-hero is not someone who hates heroes; it is a hero with the opposite usual traits.

Common Mistakes

Treating 'anti-hero' as 'someone against heroes'.

anti-hero' = a main character who lacks the usual heroic qualities.

sense 2 names a mirror version, not an enemy.

3.prefixB1

Definition

added to a word to describe a substance, device, or action whose job is to stop, treat, or reduce the problem named in that word.

Example

Dr. Sven prescribed a strong antibiotic for the painful infection in Yuki's right ear.

antibiotic: drug that fights bacteria

Before the long flight, Sofia rubbed antibacterial gel into her hands and her son's hands.

anti- + bacterial (preventing harm)

Common collocations

antibiotic
antiviral
antibacterial
antifreeze
anti-lock
anti-theft
anti-rust
anti-aging

Synonyms

counter-
shares 'blocking' meaning in some pairs (counter-attack)

Grammar Patterns

anti- + noun (the harm being blocked)

Usage Note

Distinguish from sense 1 (hostile to a group) and sense 2 (opposite kind of): this sense pairs with names of problems (rust, bacteria, viruses, theft, freeze) to name the cure or guard.

Common Mistakes

He took antibiotic for his cold.

He took an antibiotic for his cold.

'antibiotic' is a countable noun and needs 'a' or 'the'.

Word family

anti-
prefixB1
antis
nounC1
antibiotic
nounB1
anti-hero
nounC1
antibody
nounB2
antifreeze
nounB2
antidote
nounB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: prefix/1

All four prefixes attach to nouns or adjectives, but they take very different stances. 'Anti-' is the strongest: it signals open hostility or active campaigning, as in 'anti-war' or 'anti-government'. 'Counter-' is calmer and more reactive — a 'counter-argument' answers another argument without necessarily hating it; a 'counter-attack' replies in kind. 'Non-' is the most neutral of all: 'non-violent' simply means 'not using violence', with no campaign behind it. 'Pro-' is the direct opposite of 'anti-' in attitude: a 'pro-immigration' group supports newcomers, while an 'anti-immigration' group opposes them. Quick test: a 'non-smoker' just doesn't smoke, but an 'anti-smoker' actively wants smoking banned, and a 'counter-proposal' offers an alternative without rejecting the topic itself.

anti-counter-non-pro-

Common collocations

Nouns

the antis
anti-war protest
anti-government rally
anti-rust coating
anti-hero

Adverbs

Phrases

pros and antis
be strongly anti
anti the plan
an anti-climax

Prepositions

anti to (rare; usually drop 'to')
anti about

Etymology

GreekLatinEnglish

'Anti' comes from the Greek word meaning 'against' or 'opposite to'. It entered English first as a Greek and Latin prefix, riding in on technical and religious words like 'antichrist' and 'antidote'. Over time, English speakers also began using it on its own — first informally as a label ('the antis voted against the bill') in 19th-century political reporting, and later as a loose adjective and preposition in everyday speech ('I'm anti the whole idea'). The 'preventing' meaning, as in 'antibiotic' or 'antifreeze', is younger and grew mostly in the 19th and 20th centuries alongside science and industry.

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anti

anti — adjective

1. feeling or showing opposition to something already known from the conversation,

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

anti — noun

1. someone who works publicly to stop a plan, change, or activity from happening, e

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

anti — preposition

1. used directly before a noun phrase to mean 'opposed to' that specific person, gr

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

anti — prefix

1. added to a word to form a new word meaning that someone is hostile to, or campai

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

2. added to a word to name a version of something that has the opposite qualities,

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

3. added to a word to describe a substance, device, or action whose job is to stop,

Grammar Patterns

Usage Note

Common Mistakes

Word family

Synonym discussion

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

Prepositions

Etymology

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