What does antisocialism mean?
Antisocialism is a noun denoting opposition to socialism — the political and economic ideology that advocates collective or governmental ownership of the means of production. The term is most often found in political history, journalism, and scholarly analysis, where it describes individuals, movements, or governments defined by their resistance to socialist ideas or socialist parties. Its connotations are strongly ideological: calling someone or something characterized by antisocialism frames them in explicitly political terms rather than merely describing disagreement with particular policies. Despite sharing a prefix with the everyday word "antisocial," which describes behavior harmful to others, antisocialism has nothing to do with personality or manners. The word derives from the Greek-derived prefix "anti-" combined with "socialism," whose root traces to the Latin "socius," meaning companion or ally. Related forms include "antisocialist," referring to a person who holds such views. The term remains useful for discussing Cold War-era politics, European party systems, and ideological conflict generally.
nounOpposition to socialism or socialist principles, policies, or systems; hostility toward the political and economic ideology advocating collective or state ownership of the means of production.
- Opposition to socialism as a political and economic ideology.
- Hostility toward socialist parties, policies, or governments in specific historical or national contexts.
"His outspoken antisocialism made him a polarizing figure in the postwar labor debates."
"The senator's lifelong antisocialism shaped much of his domestic policy agenda."
"In interwar Europe, antisocialism was a defining feature of several conservative movements."
Rarely pluralized; the plural may appear when contrasting distinct national or historical varieties of opposition to socialism.
"Historians have traced the different antisocialisms that shaped British and German politics after 1918."
Despite its name, "antisocialism" has nothing to do with being rude at parties — it's a term for opposing one of modern history's most influential economic ideologies.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of antisocialism
Antisocialism is formed from the prefix "anti-" (from Greek, meaning "against") attached to "socialism," a word coined in early 19th-century Europe from French socialisme, ultimately rooted in the Latin "socius," meaning companion or ally. As socialism developed into a major political movement during the 19th century, the compound antisocialism emerged to name opposition to it. Cognates sharing the same Latin root include "social," "society," "sociable," and "associate."
Related word forms
How antisocialism is actually used
A relatively rare and largely political or historical term, used mainly in academic, journalistic, and polemical writing. It carries a strongly ideological connotation, so writers should use it deliberately rather than neutrally. It should not be conflated with "antisocial," which refers to personality or behavior.
Easily confused with antisocialism
"Antisocial" describes behavior that violates social norms or harms others, whereas "antisocialism" denotes opposition to the political-economic ideology of socialism.
"Socialism" is the ideology itself, while "antisocialism" is opposition to that ideology.