antipode

noun

an·​ti·​pode ˈan-tə-ˌpōd How to pronounce antipode (audio)
plural antipodes an-ˈti-pə-ˌdēz How to pronounce antipode (audio)
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 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.

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

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'antipode.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of antipode was in 1555

Dictionary Entries Near antipode

Cite this Entry

“Antipode.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/antipode. Accessed 12 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

antipode

noun
an·​ti·​pode ˈant-ə-ˌpōd How to pronounce antipode (audio)
plural antipodes an-ˈtip-ə-ˌdēz How to pronounce antipode (audio)
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 adjective

Medical Definition

antipode

noun
an·​ti·​pode ˈant-ə-ˌpōd How to pronounce antipode (audio)
plural antipodes an-ˈtip-ə-ˌdēz How to pronounce antipode (audio)
1
: the exact opposite
2
Last Updated: - Definition revised
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!