Jealousy is usually the unhappy feeling you get when you fear losing someone’s attention or feel threatenedmade to seem in danger of being hurt, taken away, or replaced by a rivala person competing with another for the same thing. In a more formal sense, it can also mean intense protective vigilancecareful watchfulness to notice possible danger or problems or guarding something closely.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈdʒɛləsi/
Easy pronunciation: JEL-uh-see (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress the first syllable.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Jealousy Meaning
the unhappy feeling of wanting what someone else has, or worrying that someone may take your place
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a feeling of jealous envy, especially toward a rival or someone who seems to have an advantage
Example: Her jealousy grew when she saw her friend spending more time with someone else.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- envy — Related and close in meaning, though envy is broader and not always tied to a rival.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Jealousy
Meaning 2
careful, intense protectiveness over something you want to keep safe or unchanged
Part of speech: noun
Definition: zealous vigilance; intense protective concern for something valued
Example: They defended their freedom with fierce jealousy.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Jealousy Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- envy
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Using jealousy and envy as perfect exact synonyms in every context.
- Using jealousy for simple admiration or wanting something without any sense of rivalry or threat.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does jealousy mean?
Jealousy usually means an unhappy feeling of envy or rivalry, especially when you fear losing someone’s attention or approval. It can also mean strong protective vigilance in a formal sense.
What is a simple synonym for jealousy?
Envy is the closest simple synonym in the everyday sense, though it is not always an exact match.
Is jealousy always a negative feeling?
Usually, yes. It often involves suspicion, rivalry, or fear of loss, although in older or formal usage it can mean strong protectiveness.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-29. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
