adversary

American  

[ad-ver-ser-ee] / ˈæd vərˌsɛr i /

noun

• adversaries
  plural

1. a person, group, or force that opposes or attacks; opponent; enemy; foe.

   Antonyms:

   ally

2. a person, group, etc., that is an opponent in a contest; contestant.

3. the Adversary, the devil; Satan.

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adjective

1. of or relating to an adversary.

2. involving adversaries, as plaintiff and defendant in a legal proceeding.

   an adversary trial.

adversary British  

/ ˈædvəsərɪ /

noun

1. a person or group that is hostile to someone; enemy

2. an opposing contestant in a game or sport

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adjective

1. the US term for adversarial

Synonym Usage

Adversary, antagonist mean a person or a group contending against another. Adversary suggests an enemy who fights determinedly, continuously, and relentlessly: a formidable adversary. Antagonist suggests one who, in hostile spirit, opposes another, often in a particular contest or struggle: a duel with an antagonist.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• adversariness
  noun
• adversarial
  adjective
• nonadversarial
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• adversaries
  plural

Etymology

Origin of adversary

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English adversarie, from Latin adversārius; equivalent to adverse + -ary; replacing Middle English adversere, from Anglo-French

Explanation

An adversary is an enemy or someone who opposes someone else. In tennis, you stand across the net from your adversary. Adversary is related to the word adverse, meaning "against or contrary" — so think of an adversary as someone whom you are fighting against. If you're the undefeated chess champion, you have bested every single one of your adversaries. Adversary is derived from a Latin word meaning "against."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

adversary adversaries

The Strait of Hormuz is, by some accounts, named for a Zoroastrian deity destined to emerge victorious after a 9,000-year standoff with an adversary.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 8, 2026

"You hint to the adversary that you might cause a really big problem: that tomorrow might be more serious."

From BBC ● Aug. 7, 2026

Might she get in front of a news camera, or on a debate stage, and bungle so badly that an adversary features her in an ad?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026

She has proven a formidable adversary for Democrats for 30 years, most recently defeating a better-funded opponent in 2020 despite polls showing her trailing right up to election day.

From BBC ● Jul. 9, 2026

But without taking his eyes off his adversary, Raymond asked me, “Should I let him have it?”

From "The Stranger" by Albert Camus

The researchers also monitor to ensure satellite operators are complying with their licences and track foreign "adversaries".

From Barron's ● Aug. 7, 2026

Much of the campaign against online adversaries has been coordinated by the ICE Office of Professional Responsibility, which is based in Washington, D.C., and has field offices nationwide.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 4, 2026

Keeping adversaries, the public and even close allies guessing is part of his method.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 3, 2026

Officials said the increase was being driven by a mix of online threats, lone actors, ideological extremism, foreign adversaries and individuals experiencing mental health crises.

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

But if we leave now, we’ll have two sets of adversaries after us.

From "Catching Fire" by Suzanne Collins

Related Words

• antagonist
• attacker
• competitor
• enemy
• foe
• opponent
• rival