jealousy

[jel-uh-see]

noun

plural

jealousies 

1. jealous resentment against a rival, a person enjoying success or advantage, etc., or against another's success or advantage itself.

2. mental uneasiness from suspicion or fear of rivalry, unfaithfulness, etc., as in love or aims.

3. vigilance in maintaining or guarding something.

4. a jealous feeling, disposition, state, or mood.

jealousy

/ ˈdʒɛləsɪ /

noun

1. the state or quality of being jealous

Confusables Note

See envy.

Word History and Origins

Origin of jealousy¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English gelusie, gelosie, from Old French gelosie, jalousie, equivalent to gelos “jealous” + -ie noun suffix; jealous, -y ³

Synonym Study

See envy.

Example Sentences

He performs with an affectionate twinkle in his eye, offering understanding even when his jealousy is put to the severest test.

From Los Angeles Times

On top of those digital-age preoccupations, Russell sought to indict the petty jealousies that exist among men — a subject, he thinks, that remains taboo.

From Los Angeles Times

A drug dealer with a long list of previous convictions, he "executed" Miss Mitchell in an attack "motivated by obsessive jealousy" over her new relationship, Ipswich Crown Court heard.

From BBC

"Jake Paul's a unique character. He's doing well. There's no animosity or jealousy there," Fury says.

From BBC

“There was just this really palpable connection that I felt with Rebecca’s relationship with her father because there’s love there, but there’s also animosity and resentment and jealousy. That really hooked me in.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• grudge 
• resentment 

When To Use

What does jealousy mean?

Jealousy is a feeling or state of resentment, bitterness, or hostility toward someone because they have something that you don’t.Jealousy usually occurs as a result of someone owning something you want but can’t have or having achieved some kind of success that you want to achieve but have not been able to.This sense of jealousy is very similar in meaning to envy, which refers to a mostly negative feeling of desire for something that someone else has and you do not—like a mix of admiration and discontent. However, while envy is not necessarily malicious, jealousy usually implies a deeper resentment, perhaps because you feel that you deserve the thing more than the other person, or that it is unfair that they have it and you don’t.Jealousy is also used in the context of romantic relationships to refer to a feeling of hostility, uneasiness, or distress relating to the fear that one’s romantic partner will be unfaithful. This often involves opposition to others giving one’s partner positive attention. Such jealousy is considered very unhealthy in relationships.Someone who is feeling or is prone to jealousy can be described as jealous. Jealous can also be used to describe such a person’s thoughts or actions.Example: If your friends feel jealousy over your success, they may not be your friends.