What does meanness mean?
Meanness is a noun meaning unkindness, spite, or pettiness, especially when directed at other people. It can also describe stinginess, as in refusing to share money, time, food, or help. The word commonly appears in judgments about conduct: “the meanness of the accusation,” “a spirit of meanness,” or “the sheer meanness of the decision.” Although it may suggest deliberate cruelty, it often implies smaller or more trivial unkindness, such as sarcasm, unfair criticism, or an unwillingness to be generous. In older and specialized contexts, meanness can mean narrowness or inadequacy of size, but this use is much less frequent in modern English. The word is usually uncountable, though “meannesses” is occasionally used for separate instances of unkind behavior.
nounThe quality of being mean, especially unkind, spiteful, or petty in behavior. It can also refer to excessive stinginess or a lack of generosity.
- Unkind, spiteful, or excessively critical behavior.
- Stinginess or unwillingness to give, share, or help generously.
- The quality of being small, narrow, or inadequate in size or scope, especially in older or more specialized usage.
"She objected to the meanness of the criticism."
"The landlord's meanness made the repairs impossible to afford."
"He was criticized for his meanness in refusing to share the food."
Usually uncountable. The plural meannesses is uncommon and is used mainly for separate acts or instances of meanness.
"The novel describes the different meannesses of public life."
Meanness turns a word for smallness or low quality into a sharp description of petty, ungenerous conduct.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does meanness come from?
Meanness was formed in Middle English by adding the suffix -ness to mean in the sense of unkind or ungenerous. The adjective mean developed through several older senses, including ideas of low quality, smallness, and common or ordinary character, before acquiring the sense “unkind or spiteful” that dominates modern usage. The noun meanness preserves the older sense of meanness or low character while also taking on meanings connected with stinginess and narrowness.
How meanness is actually used
The most common modern use is for unkind or petty behavior. In contexts involving money or resources, it can describe excessive stinginess; the sense meaning smallness or inadequacy is less common today.
Easily confused with meanness
Meanness is a quality of unkindness or spite, whereas meaning is the significance or interpretation of something.