jealousy

jealousy — noun

1. the bitter or unhappy feeling that arises when you see someone else enjoying a s

1.nounB1
Definition

the bitter or unhappy feeling that arises when you see someone else enjoying a success, a possession, or a relationship that you wish were yours

Example

When Tuan saw his colleague receive a promotion, he felt a sharp pang of jealousy.

jealousy + of + [someone's success]

Amira tried to hide her jealousy when her best friend started dating someone new.

Common collocations
  • petty jealousy
  • bitter jealousy
  • intense jealousy
  • jealousy of
  • jealousy over
  • jealousy between
  • feel jealousy
  • hide jealousy
  • green with jealousy
  • a pang of jealousy
Synonyms
  • envy

    more neutral, focuses on desire for what another has rather than resentment

  • covetousness

    formal and often disapproving, focuses on a strong desire for material possessions

  • resentment

    focuses on the anger and bitterness, less emphasis on desire

  • bitterness

    highlights the unhappy or sour feeling rather than the wanting

Antonyms
  • contentment

    a feeling of satisfaction with what one already has

  • generosity

    a willingness to share joy in others' successes rather than resent them

Grammar Patterns

jealousy + of/over + noun phrase

jealousy + between + plural noun phrase

Usage Note

Commonly followed by of or over to specify the target of the feeling, or by between when comparing two people or groups. The adjective form jealous (be jealous of) is far more common in everyday speech than the noun jealousy.

Common Mistakes

I have a jealousy of his car.
I am jealous of his car.
The noun jealousy is rarely used with 'have a [noun] of'; use the adjective 'be jealous of' for everyday statements.
She made a jealousy of my success.
She was jealous of my success.
Jealousy does not combine with 'make a [noun] of'; use the adjective form with 'be.'

2. the quality of guarding or protecting something with passionate care and attenti

2.noun
Definition

the quality of guarding or protecting something with passionate care and attentiveness — an older or literary usage of the word

Example

The old queen's jealousy in guarding her family's honor was known to everyone at court.

archaic: jealousy in + [gerund]

In his diary, the painter wrote of his jealousy in protecting his creative vision.

Synonyms
  • zeal

    the modern equivalent; passionate dedication without the negative connotation

  • vigilance

    watchful care, though without the strong emotional component

  • watchfulness

    close attention to protect something, more neutral in tone

Antonyms
  • neglect

    failure to care for or protect something properly

  • indifference

    lack of interest or concern about something

Grammar Patterns

jealousy + in + gerund phrase

Usage Note

Archaic usage now restricted to literary or historical contexts. This sense preserves the original meaning of the word, which was closer to 'zeal' or 'passionate concern' for something one feels responsible for. Do not use this sense in modern conversation — it will be misunderstood as the common 'envy' sense.

Common Mistakes

My boss has a jealousy about our work quality.' (intending the archaic sense).
My boss is very protective of our work quality.
The archaic sense of jealousy is not used in modern business contexts; use 'protective of' or 'zealous about' instead.

Word family

  • jealous
    adjectiveA2
  • jealously
    adverbB1
  • jealousness
    nounC1

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

Jealousy and envy are often used interchangeably, but careful usage distinguishes them: envy is the desire for something someone else has ('I envy your new car'), while jealousy adds resentment and fear that you might lose something you already have ('He felt jealousy when his wife spoke to another man'). Resentment focuses on the anger at perceived unfair treatment rather than on wanting something ('She felt resentment at being passed over for promotion'). Covetousness is a formal, often morally charged term for a strong possessive desire, especially for material goods ('The tenth commandment forbids covetousness'). In everyday English, jealousy covers the broadest territory — use envy when the feeling is purely admiring, resentment when the anger outweighs the wanting, and covetousness only in formal or religious contexts.

jealousy ↗envy ↗resentment ↗covetousness

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • green with jealousy
  • a pang of jealousy
  • pangs of jealousy
  • object of jealousy

Prepositions

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

Jealousy entered English through Old French jalousie, which came from jalous (meaning 'jealous'). That word traced back to Late Latin zelus, meaning 'zeal' or 'rivalry,' and further to Ancient Greek ζῆλος (zêlos), meaning 'passionate ardor' or 'emulation.' Interestingly, the earliest meaning in English was closer to 'zeal' or 'passionate concern' — the modern sense of resentful envy developed later and eventually became dominant. The original meaning survives only in the archaic 'zealous vigilance' sense.