# animus

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈæ.nɪ.məs/ · frequency rank #41,505

## Definitions
1. The basic impulses and instincts which govern one's actions.
2. A feeling of enmity, animosity or ill will.
3. Intention, motivation (of a legal person).
4. The masculine aspect of the feminine psyche or personality.

## Etymology
Learned borrowing from Latin animus (“the mind, in a great variety of meanings: the rational soul in man, intellect, consciousness, will, intention, courage, spirit, sensibility, feeling, passion, pride, vehemence, wrath, etc., the breath, life, soul”), from Proto-Italic *anamos, from Proto-Indo-European *h₂enh₁mos, from *h₂enh₁- (“to breathe”). Closely related to Latin anima, which is a feminine form.

## Easily confused with
- **anus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/animus-vs-anus)
- **anxious** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/animus-vs-anxious)
- **aims** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/aims-vs-animus)
- **Angus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/angus-vs-animus)
- **anima** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/anima-vs-animus)
- **animal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/animal-vs-animus)
- **amicus** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/amicus-vs-animus)
- **animals** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/animals-vs-animus)

## Common misspellings (8)
`ainmus`, `animmus`, `animsu`, `animuss`, `aniums`, `anmius`, `annimus`, `naimus`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/animus