antilife

A1N1T1I1L1I1F4E1

adjective

pro-choice

Scrabble 11

Meanings

adjectiveantilife (comparative more antilife, superlative most antilife)

comparative more antilife · superlative most antilife · alternative anti-life

  1. USderogatorygovernmentpro-choice
  2. derogatoryantinatalist; supporting the use of contraception to space or limit births

    A Roman Catholic says there is a trend nowadays to downgrade the family, making parents who are not limiting their families feel guilty. Rev. John C. Knight, speaking Monday night at the 28th National Catholic Family Life convention, said "there is an antilife campaign abroad in the land."

    1962 June 26, “Roman Catholic Sees Trend To Downgrade Large Family”, in Lawrence Journal-World
    1 more example

    While praising positive developments in family life, the Pope, who has taken a firm, conservative line on many social issues, said he "could not fail to draw attention to the negative phenomena." In particular, he cited "a corruption of the idea and experience of freedom, with consequent self-centeredness in human relations; serious misconceptions regarding the relationship between parents and children; the growing number of divorces; the scourge of abortion; the spread of a contraceptive and antilife mentality."

    1982 June 1, “Pope Speaks on the Sanctity of Marriage”, in The New York Times
  3. derogatorySupporting the death penalty in a particular case or in general.
  4. Opposing the preservation of life in a particular situation

    Somewhat too neatly, Johnson divides his characters into pro- and antilife factions[…].

    1988 January 22, Lawrence Bommer, “Cries From the Mammal House”, in Chicago Reader

Synonyms & antonyms

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*h₂ent-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*h₂énts
  3. Proto-Indo-European*h₂énti
  4. Ancient Greekᾰ̓ντῐ́ (ăntĭ́)
  5. Ancient Greekἀντι- (anti-)
  6. Englishanti-
  7. Proto-Indo-European*leyp-
  8. Proto-Germanic*lībaną
  9. Proto-Germanic*lībą
  10. Proto-West Germanic*līb
  11. Old Englishlīf
  12. Middle Englishlyf
  13. Englishlife
  14. Englishantilife

From anti- + life.

Full word history & related roots →

Translations

Portuguese antivida
  • antividaopposing the preservation of life
Cite this entry
APA

antilife. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/antilife

MLA

“antilife.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/antilife. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “antilife,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/antilife.

Source: antilife on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.