adversary

1 of 2

noun

ad·​ver·​sary ˈad-vər-ˌser-ē 

ˈad-və-,

-ˌse-rē

plural adversaries

: one that contends with, opposes, or resists : an enemy or opponent

a clever adversary

adversariness noun

adversary

2 of 2

adjective

1

: of, relating to, or involving an enemy or adversary

2

: having or involving antagonistic parties or opposing interests

Divorce can be an adversary proceeding.

Did you know?

Adversary comes from Latin advertere, meaning "to turn toward." The vertere of advertere means "to turn" and is the source of a number of English words. Along with obvious derivatives like inadvertent and adverse are some surprises, including anniversary, vertebra, and prose (this last coming by way of a Latin contraction of a form of the verb provertere, meaning "to turn forward").

Synonyms

Noun

• antagonist
• enemy
• foe
• hostile
• opponent

Adjective

• adversarial
• antagonistic
• antipathetic
• hostile
• inhospitable
• inimical
• jaundiced
• mortal
• negative
• unfriendly
• unsympathetic

Examples of adversary in a Sentence

Noun

He's a very smart criminal who pushes emotional buttons to get what he wants. He's quite a worthy adversary for Mac and the team. —TV Guide, 2-8 June 2008

American diplomacy after World War II exemplified the soundness of this principle. We put our power at the disposal of all who cherished freedom and peace. We did things for others they couldn't do for themselves. We defended others, yes, but we also forgave our former enemies and helped reconcile old adversaries, such as France and Germany. —Colin L. Powell, Wilson Quarterly, Summer 2004

Nike's adversary was an amorphous group of disgruntled consumers connected by a decentralized network of e-mail addresses. Although the press has presented my battle with Nike as a David versus Goliath parable, the real story is the battle between a company like Nike, with access to the mass media, and a network of citizens on the Internet … —Jonah Peretti, Nation, 9 Apr. 2001

Not perfected until the eve of World War I, this small boat cruised on the surface with a diesel engine that also charged the batteries that powered the submarine's electric motors for submerged operation. If it spotted an adversary, the submarine would dive, either to escape or attack. —Archer Jones, Elements of Military Strategy, 1996

His political adversaries tried to prevent him from winning the nomination.

our old cat seemed to consider the new kitten an adversary

Adjective

The quest for air superiority would come to include strikes on adversary airfields, but only as part of a larger effort also involving such staples as defensive fighter interception, offensive air sweeps, and escort missions with bombers designed to draw enemy fighters into battle. —John Prados, MHQ : The Quarterly Journal of Military History, Spring 1996

Critics of military justice complain that it is not a true adversary system because the JAG has authority over judges, prosecutors and defense attorneys and controls the funds of each. —Fred Strasser, National Law Journal, 4 Mar. 1991

there was a long history of adversary dealings between the two nations

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Just as engineers can use AI to do their jobs better, adversaries can use AI to quickly and more efficiently hack into computer systems. —Rachyl Jones, Fortune, 9 Apr. 2024

This time, his adversary isn’t Berlin or the banks. —Morgan Meaker, WIRED, 9 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Middle English adversaire, adversarie, borrowed from Anglo-French adverser, adverserie, borrowed from Latin adversārius, noun derivative from adversārius "opposed (to), inimical, adverse," from adversus "turned toward, facing" + -ārius -ary entry 2 — more at adverse

Adjective

earlier, "opposed, antagonistic," going back to Middle English adversarie, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin adversārius — more at adversary entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Kids Definition

adversary

1 of 2 noun

ad·​ver·​sary ˈad-və(r)-ˌser-ē 

plural adversaries

: someone or something that struggles with, opposes, or resists : enemy, opponent

adversary

2 of 2 adjective

: involving two persons or two sides who oppose each other

our adversary system of justice

Legal Definition

adversary

1 of 2 noun

ad·​ver·​sary ˈad-vər-ˌser-ē 

: one that contends with or opposes another

especially : any of the opposing parties in a legal action

adversary

2 of 2 adjective

: of, relating to, or involving opposing parties or interests

specifically : of, relating to, or involving a system of justice in which opposing parties usually represented by counsel present evidence to an impartial decision-maker (as a jury) by a process of questioning witnesses under the supervision of a judge compare accusatorial, inquisitorial