public enemy

noun

1. a person or thing considered a danger or menace to the public, especially a wanted criminal widely sought by the F.B.I. and local police forces.

2. a nation or government with which one's own is at war.

public enemy

noun

1. a notorious person, such as a criminal, who is regarded as a menace to the public

Word History and Origins

Origin of public enemy¹

First recorded in 1750–60

Example Sentences

Tributes have started to come in with hip hop star Tyler the Creator posting a black and white photo and Flavor Flav from Public Enemy calling him an icon.

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“The No. 1 public enemy of personal finance is inflation. Nothing makes your money go less far than inflation. It looks like you have money but it buys half as much,” said Steve Azoury, a financial adviser and owner of Azoury Financial in Troy, Mich.

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To hear prosecutors tell it, Jose Landa-Rodriguez was public enemy No. 1.

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She was celebrated in music with her name featured in songs including the 1998 song "Rebel Without a Pause" by hip hop group Public Enemy and "A Song for Assata" by the rapper Common.

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There are more than 1,400 pests and diseases on the government's plant health risk register, but Ips has been labelled "public enemy number one".

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