aggression

US/əˈɡɹɛʃən/

nounB2Common in everyday speech and writing · #4,960 of 15,258neutral

Other forms: aggressions

Aggression is hostile behaviour and the readiness to attack. Coming forward rather than defending.

Psychology and law both use it precisely, and an act of aggression between states is a defined thing in international law. Everyday use covers behaviour, so aggression towards staff is a real workplace category. Sport uses it approvingly, since a team playing with aggression is being praised. Passive aggression is hostility expressed indirectly, which is a quite different and often more exhausting thing.

Definitions of aggression

1nounaggressionHostile or violent behaviour and the readiness to attack.B2
“Any aggression towards staff will be reported.”

Where it comes from

Aggression begins as approaching. Latin aggredior meant to approach or to address somebody and only then to attack, so the walk towards you came before the blow.

Latin
aggressiō
Middle French
aggression
English, today
aggression

Built from

aggredior · Latin — to approach, address, attack

Borrowed from Middle French aggression, from Latin aggressiō. From Middle French aggression, from Latin aggressio, from aggressus, past participle of aggredior (“to approach, address, attack”). by surface analysis, ag- + -gress + -ion.

Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA

Practised in A Man Called Ove

First appears in chapter 11 of A Man Called Ove.

Practise this word

aggression in the wild

In humans, aggression can be caused by various triggers.
Aggression
For example, aggression may result from built-up frustration due to blocked goals or perceived disrespect.
Aggression
Verbal aggression and abuse affects all populations, cultures, and individuals.
Verbal abuse
A crime of aggression or crime against peace is the planning, initiation, or execution of a large-scale and serious act of aggression using state military force.
Crime of aggression
No one has been prosecuted for aggression either before or since the 1940s.
Crime of aggression

1 / 2

From Wikipedia, CC BY-SA 4.0. These sentences were written by other people about their own subjects; they are here to show the word at work, not as anybody’s opinion.

← Vocabulary