[an-tee-heer-oh, an-tahy-] 
| a protagonist who lacks the attributes that make a heroic figure, as nobility of mind and spirit, a life or attitude marked by action or purpose, and the like. |
| an·ti·he·ro also an·ti-he·ro (ān'tē-hîr'ō, ān'tī-) n. pl. an·ti·he·roes also an·ti-he·roes A main character in a dramatic or narrative work who is characterized by a lack of traditional heroic qualities, such as idealism or courage. an'ti·her·o'ic (-hĭ-rō'ĭk) adj., an'ti·her'o·ism (-hěr'ō-ĭz'əm) n. |
antihero
a protagonist of a drama or narrative who is notably lacking in heroic qualities. This type of character has appeared in literature since the time of the Greek dramatists and can be found in the literary works of all nations. Examples include the title characters of Miguel de Cervantes's Don Quixote (Part I, 1605; Part II, 1615) and Henry Fielding's Tom Jones (1749). Some examples of the modern, postwar antihero, as defined by the Angry Young Men, include Joe Lampton, in John Braine's Room at the Top (1957), and Arthur Seaton, in Alan Sillitoe's Saturday Night and Sunday Morning (1958).
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tiˌhɪər