enemy

[ en-uh-mee ]

noun

, plural en·e·mies.

1. a person who feels hatred for, fosters harmful designs against, or engages in antagonistic activities against another; an adversary or opponent.

   Synonyms: antagonist

   Antonyms: friend

2. an armed foe; an opposing military force:

   The army attacked the enemy at dawn.

   Antonyms: ally

3. a hostile nation or state.
4. a citizen of such a state.
5. enemies, persons, nations, etc., that are hostile to one another:

   Let's make up and stop being enemies.

6. something harmful or prejudicial:

   His unbridled ambition is his worst enemy.

7. the Enemy, the Devil; Satan.

adjective

1. belonging to a hostile power or to any of its nationals:

   enemy property.

2. Obsolete. inimical; ill-disposed.

enemy

/ ˈɛnəmɪ /

noun

1. a person hostile or opposed to a policy, cause, person, or group, esp one who actively tries to do damage; opponent
2. 1. an armed adversary; opposing military force
   2. ( as modifier )

      enemy aircraft

3. 1. a hostile nation or people
   2. ( as modifier )

      an enemy alien

4. something that harms or opposes; adversary

   courage is the enemy of failure

Grammar Note

See collective noun.

Other Words From

• non·ene·my noun plural nonenemies

Word History and Origins

Origin of enemy¹

First recorded in 1300–1350; Middle English enemi, from Anglo-French, Old French, from Latin inimicus “unfriendly,” equivalent to in- in- ³ + amicus “friendly, friend”; amicable

Word History and Origins

Origin of enemy¹

C13: from Old French enemi, from Latin inimīcus hostile, from in- ¹+ amīcus friend

Synonym Study

Enemy, foe refer to a dangerous public or personal adversary. Enemy emphasizes the idea of hostility: to overcome the enemy; a bitter enemy. Foe, a more literary word, may be used interchangeably with enemy, but emphasizes somewhat more the danger to be feared from such a one: deadly foe; arch foe of humankind ( the Devil ).

Example Sentences

What’s more, “the reason that he was an adherent of the Conservative Party lay in protecting the things that should have been his enemies: the established order and the family system based on heterosexual love.”

From New York Times

I’m like, ‘Well, you’re not my enemy. There’s another Ice. You don’t want to meet him.’

From Los Angeles Times

Certainty, he continues, “is the great enemy of unity. Certainty is the deadly enemy of tolerance.”

From Salon

Trump has waged war on the media from day one, referring to them often as “fake,” “crooked” and an “enemy of the state.”

From Los Angeles Times

When they were focused on defeating a common enemy — Democrats — Republicans were able to set aside their differences to get Trump over the electoral line.

From Salon

Related Words

• adversary
• agent
• antagonist
• attacker
• bandit
• competitor
• criminal
• detractor
• foe
• guerrilla
• invader
• murderer
• opponent
• opposition
• prosecutor
• rebel
• rival
• spy
• terrorist
• traitor