anti-us
UK[ˈænti ˌjuː ˈes]US[ˈænti ˌjuː ˈes]
adj
Opposed to or against the United States of America, its policies, government, or culture.
Morpheme Breakdown
anti
US
anti
against
US
United States
Etymology
The term is a modern political compound, formed in the 20th century. The prefix 'anti-', derived from the ancient Greek preposition anti meaning 'against', is directly attached to the initialism 'US', which stands for the United States. This construction follows a common English pattern of using 'anti-' to denote opposition to a nation, ideology, or entity (e.g., anti-war, anti-fascist). The word's literal meaning, "against the US," directly conveys its abstract political sense of opposition to the nation, its government, or its policies, reflecting its use in geopolitical discourse.
Analysis
Structure: anti (against) + US (United States)
- anti: A prefix of Greek origin (from anti- meaning 'against, opposite').
- US: An initialism for "United States," functioning as a proper noun.
Examples
The regime was accused of promoting anti-US propaganda.
The policy shift sparked both pro-US and anti-US demonstrations in the capital.
He was labeled anti-US for his vocal criticism of the foreign intervention.