jealousy
/ˈdʒel.ə.si/ IELTSAcademic
noun
Jealousy is the unhappy feeling you get when you fear losing someone’s love, attention, or loyalty to another person. It can also mean envy when you want what someone else has.
- He felt jealousy when his friend got the promotion.
- Her jealousy made the relationship difficult.
- Jealousy can hurt trust between people.
Adinary Nuance
Jealousy is not exactly the same as envy. Jealousy often involves fear of losing a relationship, while envy is wanting something another person has. In everyday English, people sometimes use jealousy for both feelings, but careful writers often choose the more exact word.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- sự ghen tị
- Spanish
- celos
- Chinese
- 嫉妒
- Japanese
- 嫉妬
- Korean
- 질투
Etymology
Jealousy comes from Old French jalousie, from jaloux, meaning “jealous.” It entered English in the Middle Ages.
Common phrases
feel jealousya pang of jealousyjealousy over someonejealousy in a relationship
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- What is the difference between jealousy and envy?
- Jealousy is often fear of losing someone or something. Envy is wanting what another person has.
- Is jealousy a positive or negative word?
- It is usually negative. It suggests upset feelings, distrust, or insecurity.
- Can I say 'jealous of' in English?
- Yes. People often say 'jealous of someone' when they mean envy. In careful writing, 'envy' may be clearer.
- Is jealousy common in spoken English?
- Yes, it is common in both speech and writing, especially about relationships and competition.