noun
animus
A-nih-muhs
noun
1
Strong dislike, hostility, or ill will toward someone or something.
"He couldn't explain his animus toward his former partner."
"The review was tinged with obvious animus."
2
Intention or motive, especially in a legal sense.
"The court examined the defendant's animus in bringing the claim."
"Prosecutors had to prove criminal animus."
How to Use Animus
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishHostility or underlying intent behind someone's actions.
Common mistake
In everyday use "animus" leans toward hostility; in law it often just means "intent," without necessarily implying malice.
Easily confused with
Word Forms
animuses plural
Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “animus”
A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage
→
Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
He couldn't explain his _____ toward his former partner.
Etymology
A learned borrowing directly from Latin animus, meaning "mind, spirit, intention" — closely related to anima ("soul, breath").