What does invidious mean?
Invidious is an adjective meaning envious, spiteful, or hostile toward another person's advantages. It is also used for distinctions and comparisons that are deliberately or unfairly biased in favor of one group and against another. The word carries a more formal and literary tone than everyday alternatives such as “jealous” or “unfair,” and its force comes from suggesting hostility or prejudice rather than simple dissatisfaction. A typical use is “an invidious distinction,” a phrase for a choice or comparison that places people in an unfairly advantageous or disadvantageous position. Because “invidious” can suggest deliberate unfairness, it is stronger and more pointed than merely saying that a decision is poorly designed. It remains useful in discussion of social judgments, institutional policies, and criticism where envy, resentment, or prejudice must be described precisely.
Characterized by envy, spite, or hostility toward another person's success or advantages.
"He resisted making the invidious choice between the two equally qualified candidates."
This sense is formal and literary; “envious” is more common in neutral everyday usage.
Unfair or prejudicial, especially in the form of a distinction or comparison that favors one person or group over another.
"The policy risks creating an invidious distinction between urban and rural schools."
This use commonly appears in the phrase “an invidious distinction.”
An invidious choice is not merely hard to make: it is one that seems designed to favor some people and penalize others.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does invidious come from?
The word comes from Latin invidiosus, meaning “envious,” “jealous,” or “jealously hostile.” It was formed from invidia, the Latin noun for “envy” or “jealousy,” and reflects the same Indo-European root underlying English “envy.” The adjective reached English in the early 17th century, initially in the sense of “envious or malicious,” before developing its modern use for unfair or prejudicial distinctions.
Related word forms
How invidious is actually used
The word has a formal, literary tone and is more common in writing than in everyday speech. It is often used to describe an unfair comparison, distinction, or treatment, rather than a person's general personality.
Easily confused with invidious
“Invidious” describes envy, spite, or unfair prejudice, whereas “inviolable” means impossible to violate or disregard.