anti

Anti is a productive prefix in English, derived from the Greek anti-, meaning against or opposite. It forms adjectives and nouns that indicate opposition, counteraction, or contrast, and it can attach to a wide range of roots. In usage, it often signals a counterforce or a stance opposed to the base concept.

In science and medicine, anti- terms describe agents that counteract harmful actors or processes. Examples include antibiotic (against bacteria), antifungal (against fungi), antiviral (against viruses), antiseptic (against infection), and antidote (counteracts poison). In physics and chemistry, antiparticle and antimatter refer to counterparts with opposite quantum properties, while antipodes denotes opposite points on the globe. In biology and immunology, the prefix appears in terms like antibody, which targets foreign substances.

In social and political discourse, anti- labels denote opposition to policies, movements, or ideas. Common uses include antiwar, anti-globalization, anti-fascist, and antisemitism, the latter describing hostility toward Jews. As a tendency or stance, anti- often emphasizes resistance rather than mere negation.

Etymology and orthography: the prefix comes from Greek anti-, meaning against. In modern English it is typically affixed directly to the root without a hyphen (as in antifreeze or antibodies), though some style guides allow hyphenation for clarity, especially with longer or less familiar terms.

The prefix anti- thus operates across science, culture, and politics to denote opposition, counteraction, or opposite characteristics. It is a common and versatile tool for forming terms that express resistance or contrast.