Monarch in backing of business district displays savage attitude (8)
I believe the answer is:
ferocity
'savage attitude' is the definition.
The definition and answer can be both human attributes as well as being singular nouns.
Maybe you can see a link between them that I can't see?
'monarch in backing of business district' is the wordplay.
'monarch' becomes 'er' (abbreviation for Elizabeth Regina, British Queen).
'in' is an insertion indicator.
'backing' says the letters should be written in reverse.
'business district' becomes 'city' (city is a kind of district. I am not sure about the 'business' bit.).
'of' backwards is 'fo'.
'er' going within 'fo' is 'fero'.
'fero'+'city'='FEROCITY'
'displays' is the link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for ferocity that I've seen before include "Wild savagery" , "Savagery, fierceness" , "State of savagery and violence" , "Cruel violence" , "Savageness" .)