antipode

noun

an·​ti·​pode ˈan-tə-ˌpōd 

plural antipodes an-ˈti-pə-ˌdēz 

1

: the parts of the earth diametrically opposite

—usually used in plural

—often used of Australia and New Zealand as contrasted to the western hemisphere

2

: the exact opposite or contrary

antipodean

(ˌ)an-ˌti-pə-ˈdē-ən 

adjective or noun

Did you know?

We borrowed the word antipode over 600 years ago. It first appeared in a translation of a Latin text as a word designating "men that have their feet against our feet," that is, inhabitants of the opposite side of the globe. The word, which originated in Greek, combines anti-, meaning "opposite," with the root pod-, meaning "foot." "Antipode" is no longer used in English as a designation for people, but the notion of the other side of the globe lives on in its current geographical sense. We have come to use the plural term "antipodes" (pronounced \an-TIH-puh-deez) to refer to Australia and New Zealand because they are on the other side of the earth from Britain.

Synonyms

• antithesis
• contrary
• counter
• negative
• obverse
• opposite
• reverse

Examples of antipode in a Sentence

our little pug is an antipode to our other dog, a mastiff

Recent Examples on the Web

But in the antipodes and Africa, a myth built up around Rodriguez; in the latter region, his music was embraced by the anti-apartheid movement. —Chris Morris, Variety, 9 Aug. 2023

His college buddy Ken was Mr. Hsu’s uncool antipode, stiff-collared and focused on the future. —Marc Weingarten, WSJ, 7 Oct. 2022

The research makes a strong case that this approach is more effective than its antipode: being unnecessarily hard on yourself. —Mark Travers, Forbes, 10 Aug. 2022

In scattering amplitudes, the antipode map that Dixon found is a bit more abstract. —Katie McCormick, Quanta Magazine, 1 Aug. 2022

President Joe Biden could be the antipode to the Trump/Greene type of outrage politics. —Zachary B. Wolf, CNN, 12 Apr. 2021

But that's usually antipode to how a business—which is how Congress characterizes the USPS—is run. —Jonathan Vanian, Fortune, 15 Aug. 2020

Jonathan’s message was clear: When the going gets tough, the tough go to the antipodes. —The New Yorker, 6 Apr. 2020

After Leonard Bernstein left the job in 1969, the orchestra chose as his successor an antipode, the cerebral Pierre Boulez. —David Mermelstein, WSJ, 1 Oct. 2018

Word History

Etymology

Middle English antipodes, plural, persons dwelling at opposite points on the globe, from Latin, from Greek, from plural of antipod-, antipous with feet opposite, from anti- + pod-, pous foot — more at foot

First Known Use

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

antipode

noun

an·​ti·​pode ˈant-ə-ˌpōd 

plural antipodes an-ˈtip-ə-ˌdēz 

1

: the parts of the earth opposite each other at a distance of the earth's diameter

—usually used in plural

2

: the exact opposite

antipodal

an-ˈtip-əd-ᵊl

adjective

antipodean

(ˌ)an-tip-ə-ˈdē-ən 

adjective

Medical Definition

antipode

noun

an·​ti·​pode ˈant-ə-ˌpōd 

plural antipodes an-ˈtip-ə-ˌdēz 

1

: the exact opposite

2

: enantiomer