Meanness is the quality of being deliberately unkind or hurtful to others. When someone shows meanness, they might insult a classmate, exclude someone from a game on purpose, or say something cruel just to make another person feel bad.

Meanness is different from accidentally hurting someone's feelings or having a bad day. A mean person chooses to be hurtful, sometimes taking pleasure in making others uncomfortable or upset. You can see meanness in a student who mocks someone's wrong answer, a sibling who hides your favorite toy just to watch you search for it, or a friend who spreads embarrassing rumors about you.

The word can also describe stinginess with money or possessions. Someone who shows this kind of meanness refuses to share even when they have plenty, or begrudges giving even small amounts. A mean person might have ten cookies but refuse to share even one.

Meanness can come from insecurity: people may act mean when they feel small inside and mistakenly believe putting others down will make them feel bigger.