enemy
[ en-uh-mee ]
/ ˈɛn ə mi /
noun, plural en·e·mies.
adjective
belonging to a hostile power or to any of its nationals: enemy property.
Obsolete. inimical; ill-disposed.
RELATED CONTENT
RELATED WORDS
murderer, spy, terrorist, competitor, rival, guerrilla, agent, detractor, bandit, foe, villain, traitor, rebel, opposition, invader, criminal, adversary, antagonist, opponent, prosecutor
Nearby words
Origin of enemy
SYNONYMS FOR enemy
1 antagonist. 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 ).
Related forms
non·en·e·my, noun, plural non·en·e·mies.Usage note
See collective noun.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for enemy
British Dictionary definitions for enemy
enemy
/ (ˈɛnəmɪ) /
noun plural -mies
a person hostile or opposed to a policy, cause, person, or group, esp one who actively tries to do damage; opponent
- an armed adversary; opposing military force
- (as modifier)enemy aircraft
- a hostile nation or people
- (as modifier)an enemy alien
something that harms or opposes; adversarycourage is the enemy of failure
Related forms
Related adjective: inimicalWord Origin for enemy
C13: from Old French enemi, from Latin inimīcus hostile, from in- 1 + amīcus friend
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
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