enemy

noun

en·​e·​my ˈe-nə-mē How to pronounce enemy (audio)
plural enemies
1
: one that is antagonistic to another
especially : one seeking to injure, overthrow, or confound an opponent
2
: something harmful or deadly
alcohol was his greatest enemy
3
a
: a military adversary
b
: a hostile unit or force

Examples of enemy in a Sentence

He made a lot of enemies during the course of his career. Tradition is the enemy of progress.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Bomarc rockets had jets designed to propel a W40 nuclear warhead into high-flying USSR aircraft, which would detonate in the sky, showering the earth with radioactive debris, neutralizing quite a few enemies of American freedom. Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2025 Strategic bombings are a critical component of modern warfare, crippling supply lines, disrupting operations, and breaking enemy morale. Vikram Mittal, Forbes.com, 4 Aug. 2025 In the war against cancer, enemy intel is extremely valuable. New Atlas, 3 Aug. 2025 As the population of gall insects increases, so do the natural enemies. Tim Johnson, Chicago Tribune, 3 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for enemy

Word History

Etymology

Middle English enmy, enemi, borrowed from Anglo-French enemi, going back to Latin inimīcus, noun derivative of inimīcus, adjective, "of an opponent, unfriendly, hostile," from in- in- entry 1 + amīcus "friendly, well-disposed, loving" — more at amiable

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of enemy was in the 13th century

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Cite this Entry

“Enemy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/enemy. Accessed 8 Aug. 2025.

Kids Definition

enemy

noun
en·​e·​my ˈen-ə-mē How to pronounce enemy (audio)
plural enemies
1
: one that tries to hurt or overthrow or that seeks the failure of another
2
: something that harms
3
a
: a nation with which a country is at war
b
: a military force or a person belonging to such a nation
Etymology

Middle English enemi "enemy," from early French enemi (same meaning), from Latin inimicus (same meaning), from in- "not" and amicus "friend"

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