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

• adversary
• antagonist
• foe
• hostile
• opponent

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

However, the big issue is that Zelda, for all her echo conjuring, can’t really defend herself against enemies on her own. —Ollie Barder, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024

Author and Middle East expert Rebekah Koffler lays out how Israeli spy services exploit human psychology and their enemies' reliance on technology to protect the Jewish State. —Fox News Staff, Fox News, 25 Oct. 2024

The cast here is most believable as young people—enemies or not—who stay up all night and then fall asleep in a pile, like puppies in long grass. —Helen Shaw, The New Yorker, 25 Oct. 2024

Zegler is competent as Juliet, more like a teenager in a sitcom who has to decide what to wear on a date to the malt shop than a girl who has accidently fallen in love with her father’s enemy. —Trish Deitch, Variety, 25 Oct. 2024

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"