enemy

noun

en·​e·​my ˈe-nə-mē 

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

Synonyms of enemy

• opponent
• foe
• hostile

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

Using the military to target the political enemies of the party in power would go against our training. —Arkansas Online, 22 Jan. 2026

During Thursday’s hearing, the appeals court also questioned Ensign on the DOJ’s assertion that courts should give significant deference to the president’s findings that the conditions required to invoke the enemies act have been met. —Jack Birle, The Washington Examiner, 22 Jan. 2026

This the combination of repetition and careful planning for known circumstances is combined with the ever-present reality for service members that no battle plan survives first contact with the enemy. —Heather V. MacArthur, Forbes.com, 22 Jan. 2026

And what of the emerging calculus, whispered but increasingly believed, that being an American ally is becoming more dangerous than being America’s enemy? —Ivan Krastev, Time, 21 Jan. 2026

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

Phrases Containing enemy

• behind enemy lines
• enemy territory
• mortal enemy
• public enemy number one

Kids Definition

enemy

noun

en·​e·​my ˈen-ə-mē 

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"