jealousy

noun

jeal·​ou·​sy ˈje-lə-sē How to pronounce jealousy (audio)
plural jealousies
1
: a jealous disposition, attitude, or feeling
a marriage destroyed by jealousy
petty jealousies
2
: zealous vigilance
cherish their official political freedom with fierce jealousyPaul Blanshard

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Jealousy vs. Envy

Depending on who you ask, jealousy and envy are either exact synonyms, totally different words, or near-synonyms with some degree of semantic overlap and some differences. It is difficult to make the case, based on the evidence of usage that we have, for either of the first two possibilities. Both jealousy and envy are often used to indicate that a person is covetous of something that someone else has, but jealousy carries the particular sense of “zealous vigilance” and tends to be applied more exclusively to feelings of protectiveness regarding one’s own advantages or attachments. In the domain of romance, it is more commonly found than envy. If you were to say “your salt-shaker collection fills me with jealousy,” most people would take it to mean much the same thing as “your salt-shaker collection fills me with envy.” But if someone made a flirtatious comment to your partner, you would likely say that it caused you jealousy, not envy.

Examples of jealousy in a Sentence

petty jealousies among political rivals a marriage ruined by infidelity and jealousy He was driven crazy with jealousy. He was unable to control his jealousies.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But so are the jagged edges that made Girls, Dunham’s beloved 2012 HBO series, so refreshing, which include crippling jealousy, female rage, and unbridled honesty about bodily functions. Lindy Segal, Glamour, 7 July 2025 There are so many emotions here: jealousy, strong desire to succeed. Marta Balaga, Variety, 6 July 2025 Still, the lovers’ sense of yearning and jealousy just isn’t that palpable. Emily McClanathan, Chicago Tribune, 6 July 2025 The researchers surveyed 275 heterosexual women aged 18 to 50 and found that women who endorsed these beliefs were significantly more likely to view controlling behaviors (such as jealousy, possessiveness or making decisions for the partner) as romantic. Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 2 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for jealousy

Word History

Etymology

see jealous

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of jealousy was in the 13th century

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Cite this Entry

“Jealousy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/jealousy. Accessed 18 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

jealousy

noun
jeal·​ou·​sy ˈjel-ə-sē How to pronounce jealousy (audio)
plural jealousies
: a jealous disposition, attitude, or feeling

More from Merriam-Webster on jealousy

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