What does amity mean?
Amity refers to a state of friendship, harmony, and peaceful goodwill between people, groups, or nations. It describes more than the absence of conflict: it implies active warmth, mutual respect, and a spirit of cooperation. The word appears most often in formal contexts — diplomatic speeches, treaties, legal documents, and literature — where phrases such as 'a spirit of amity' or 'amity between nations' signal a sincere commitment to peace. Though it can describe cordial relations between individuals, it is especially associated with relations between communities or states, which gives it a dignified, slightly old-fashioned tone. Its opposite is enmity or hostility. Amity derives from Latin amicus ('friend'), the same root that gives us amicable and amiable, so the word itself carries friendliness in its very origins. For writers seeking a graceful, elevated way to express harmonious relations, amity remains one of the most precise and resonant choices available in English.
nounA friendly, peaceful relationship between people, groups, or nations; harmony and goodwill.
- Friendly, peaceful relations between individuals, groups, or nations.
"The treaty was signed in a spirit of amity between the two nations."
"After decades of conflict, the two communities finally lived side by side in genuine amity."
"The conference opened with warm expressions of amity among the delegations."
Rarely used; the plural occasionally appears in older texts referring to multiple instances of friendly relations.
"The old correspondence recorded the many amities he had formed across Europe."
Amity comes from the same Latin root as 'amateur' — because an amateur was originally someone who does something for love.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of amity
Amity comes from Old French amitie, which derives from Latin amicitia meaning 'friendship', rooted in amicus ('friend'). It entered English in the late Middle English period, around the 15th century. Cognates sharing this Latin root include amicable, amiable, and amateur — the latter originally denoting one who pursues an activity out of love.
How amity is actually used
Amity is a formal, somewhat elevated word, most often found in diplomatic, legal, and literary contexts rather than everyday conversation. It carries a strongly positive connotation of lasting peace and goodwill, not mere politeness. It is typically used to describe relationships between groups or nations more often than between individual friends.
Easily confused with amity
Enmity is the opposite of amity — it means deep hostility or hatred between parties, whereas amity means friendly goodwill.
Amnesty is an official pardon for offenses, while amity is friendly relations; the words rhyme but are unrelated in meaning.