violence

B1 Topic:War & Conflict

US /ˈvaɪ.(ə.)ləns/ See IPA manual

Freq #2168

Meanings

1

noun
Behaviour that uses physical force to hurt, damage, or kill.

We try to avoid violence when resolving conflicts.
2

noun
Widespread fighting or conflict between groups.

Violence between the government and the rebels continues.
3

noun
Extreme natural force or intensity.

The violence of the storm tore roofs from the houses.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · behaviour that uses... force

3 noun · extreme natural force or... ferocity fierceness fury vehemence wildness

Opposites

nonviolencepeace

Word family

Derived forms non-violencepornoviolenceself-violenceultraviolenceviolence-ridden

Related forms violate violation violent

Appears in

Phrases (2)

See all

Proverbs (1)

See all

Violence begets violence

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *weyh₁-der. Proto-Indo-European *wéyh₁s Proto-Italic *wīs Latin vīs Latin violēns Proto-Indo-European *-yós Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Latin -ius Latin -ia Latin violentiabor. Old French violencebor. Middle English violence English violence Inherited from Middle English violence, borrowed from Old French violence, borrowed from Latin violentia, from violēns (“violent”) + -ia. See violent. Displaced native Old English stræc.

Topics

War & Conflict

External links

# violence

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈvaɪ.(ə.)ləns/
**Frequency rank:** 2168

## Meanings
1. Behaviour that uses physical force to hurt, damage, or kill.
2. Widespread fighting or conflict between groups.
3. Extreme natural force or intensity.

## Examples
- We try to avoid violence when resolving conflicts.
- Violence between the government and the rebels continues.
- The violence of the storm tore roofs from the houses.

## Antonyms
- nonviolence
- peace

## Derived Forms
- non-violence
- pornoviolence
- self-violence
- ultraviolence
- violence-ridden

## Related Forms
- violate
- violation
- violent

## Etymology
Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *weyh₁-der. Proto-Indo-European *wéyh₁s Proto-Italic *wīs Latin vīs Latin violēns Proto-Indo-European *-yós Proto-Italic *-ios Old Latin -ios Latin -ius Latin -ia Latin violentiabor. Old French violencebor. Middle English violence English violence Inherited from Middle English violence, borrowed from Old French violence, borrowed from Latin violentia, from violēns (“violent”) + -ia. See violent. Displaced native Old English stræc.

## AI Etymology
Violence: The etymological chain runs Proto-Indo-European *weyh₁- -> Proto-Indo-European *wéyh₁s -> Proto-Italic *wīs -> Latin vīs -> Latin violēns -> Proto-Indo-European *-yós -> Proto-Italic *-ios -> Old Latin -ios -> Latin -ius -> Latin -ia -> Latin violentia -> Old French violence -> Middle English violence -> English violence. Inherited from Middle English violence, borrowed from Old French violence, borrowed from Latin violentia, from violēns (“violent”) + -ia. See violent. Displaced native Old English stræc. In present-day use, it can mean behaviour that uses physical force to hurt, damage, or kill, or widespread fighting or conflict between groups.

## Topics
- War & Conflict

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