foe

1 of 2

noun

ˈfō 

1

: one who has personal enmity for another

Embrace, embrace, my Sons! be foes no more!

—Alexander Pope

2

a

: an enemy in war

b

: adversary, opponent

a political foe

3

: one who opposes on principle

a foe of needless expenditures

a foe of censorship

4

: something prejudicial or injurious

a foe to health

FOE

2 of 2

abbreviation

Fraternal Order of Eagles

Synonyms of foe

Noun

• enemy
• opponent

Examples of foe in a Sentence

Noun

Many considered him a foe of democracy.

Her ability was acknowledged by friend and foe alike.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

One of the most high-profile and controversial figures in British politics, Farage has had an outsized effect as a champion of leaving the European Union and foe of large-scale immigration. — Jill Lawless, Los Angeles Times, 7 July 2026

And that’s not taking into account the second squadron of F-15IA jets Israel ordered, which would doubtlessly prove a formidable foe against any Iranian Flankers. — Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 7 July 2026

Since releasing Skeletor in April, Keef has linked up with onetime Twitter foe Katy Perry for a standalone single. — Jazz Monroe, Pitchfork, 6 July 2026

Collectively, the actions send a message that the United States will not be restricted by laws or norms in pursuit of its foes. — Marie-Rose Sheinerman, The Atlantic, 6 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English fo, from Old English fāh, from fāh, adjective, hostile; akin to Old High German gifēh hostile

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing foe

• mortal foe/rival

Rhymes for foe

• beau
• beaut
• beaux
• blow
• bro
• coe
• crow
• doe
• doh
• dough
• eau
• eaux

Kids Definition

foe

noun

ˈfō 

1

: one who hates another

2

: an enemy in war