# envious

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ˈɛnviːəs/ · frequency rank #21,788

## Definitions
1. Feeling or exhibiting envy; jealously desiring the excellence or good fortune of another; maliciously grudging.
2. Excessively careful; cautious.
3. Malignant; mischievous; spiteful.
4. Inspiring envy.

## Etymology
From Middle English envious, from Anglo-Norman envious, from Old French envieus, envious (modern French envieux), from Latin invidiōsus; more at envy. Doublet of invidious, borrowed directly from Latin. Displaced native Old English æfestiġ.

## Easily confused with
- **environs** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/envious-vs-environs)

## Common misspellings (9)
`enivous`, `ennvious`, `enviosu`, `enviouss`, `enviuos`, `envoius`, `envvious`, `evnious`, `nevious`

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