If someone is your enemy, they hate you or want to harm you.
2. countable noun
If someone is your enemy, they are opposed to you and to what you think or do.
The Government's political enemies were quick to pick up on this series of disasters.
3. singular noun [with singular or plural verb, NOUN noun]
Theenemy is an army or other force that is opposed to you in a war, or a country with which your countryis at war.
The enemy were pursued for two miles.
He searched the skies for enemy bombers.
4. countable noun [usually singular]
If one thing is the enemy of another thing, the second thing cannot happen or succeed because of the first thing.
[formal]
Reform, as we know, is the enemy of revolution. [+ of]
More Synonyms of enemy
enemy in British English
(ˈɛnəmɪ)
nounWord forms: plural-mies
1.
a person hostile or opposed to a policy, cause, person, or group, esp one who actively tries to do damage; opponent
2.
a.
an armed adversary; opposing military force
b.
(as modifier)
enemy aircraft
3.
a.
a hostile nation or people
b.
(as modifier)
an enemy alien
4.
something that harms or opposes; adversary
courage is the enemy of failure
▶ Related adjective: inimical
Word origin
C13: from Old French enemi, from Latin inimīcus hostile, from in-1 + amīcus friend
enemy in American English
(ˈenəmi) (nounplural -mies)
noun
1.
a person who feels hatred for, fosters harmful designs against, or engages in antagonistic activities against another; an adversary or opponent
2.
an armed foe; an opposing military force
The army attacked the enemy at dawn
3.
a hostile nation or state
4.
a citizen of such a state
5. See enemies
6.
something harmful or prejudical
His unbridled ambition is his worst enemy
7. See the Enemy
adjective
8.
belonging to a hostile power or to any of its nationals
enemy property
9. obsolete
inimical; ill-disposed
Word origin
[1250–1300; ME enemi ‹ AF, OF ‹ L inimicus unfriendly, equiv. to in-in-3 + amicus friendly, friend; see amicable]
COBUILD Collocations
enemy
common enemy
deadly enemy
powerful enemy
Examples of 'enemy' in a sentence
enemy
It was all about a shadowy cabal who resist urges from their earth mother not to make war on their enemies.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
While he blamed the press for his bad publicity, he was his own worst enemy.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She emptied the magazine, but the enemy aircraft disappeared, unscathed.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
In a stilted encounter, the political enemies sought to bury their differences, at least in public.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Are you public enemy number one, I ask her.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
That is good news for all of us in the alliance - and bad news for the enemies and opponents of free, democratic nations.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This was an area of high enemy forces activity.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
News that the enemy army is on the move arrives by mobile phone.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
This shows the extent to which the enemies of our country can go.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
This did not necessarily mean they were political enemies.
Martin Allen THE HITLER-HESS DECEPTION (2003)
It would be wrong to call the two pairs enemies.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
It was the last major battle where our nations met as enemies.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Your job is to man a turret and blast a horde of alien enemies.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
No enemy aircraft was seen in the vicinity.
Gunston, Bill Plane Speaking - a personal view of aviation history (1991)
It is not the time to make enemies of old friends.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
He has gone farther than most to make your opponents his personal enemies.
Christopher Hibbert DISRAELI: A Personal History (2004)
His engine stopped and he made a forced landing behind enemy lines.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
For the army of my loved ones and the army of my enemies?
The Times Literary Supplement (2012)
No doubt he will put this down to a conspiracy by his political enemies.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
This leads to him being interned as an enemy alien.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Heads swivelled to the bearing as the pilots searched for the enemy aircraft.
Patrick Bishop FIGHTER BOYS: Saving Britain 1940 (2003)
Perhaps their enemies had declared war on them.
Clerk, Jayana & Siegel, Ruth Modern Literatures of the Non-Western World: Where the Waters Are Born (1995)
Successful generals study the battleground and look for that one bold stroke that is least expected by the enemy.
Al Ries and Jack Trout THE 22 IMMUTABLE LAWS OF MARKETING (1993)
Has the old enemy gone soft?
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
United by a common enemy, the two armies were not brought together on the ground.
Malcolm Balen A Model Victory (2005)
Or should these vulnerabilities be kept secret to use in espionage or sabotage against the nation 's enemies?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Death is a real thing and an enemy, which the Bible is certainly clear to affirm.
Christianity Today (2000)
When that's over, we can come back and clear out the last of the things before our enemies return in the morning.
George MacDonald The Princess and the Goblin (1872)
Quotations
Pay attention to your enemies, for they are the first to discover your mistakesAntisthenes
You can discover what your enemy fears most by observing the means he uses to frighten youEric HofferThe Passionate State of Mind
A man cannot be too careful in the choice of his enemiesOscar WildeLady Windermere's Fan
A very great man once said you should love your enemies, and that's not a bad piece of advice. We can love them, but, by God, that doesn't mean we're not going to fight themNorman Schwarzkopf
The enemy advances, we retreat. The enemy camps, we harass. The enemy tires, we attack. The enemy retreats, we pursueMao Zedongslogan for his troops
We have met the enemy and he is usWalt KellyPogo
Yet is every man his own greatest enemy, and as it were his own executionerThomas BrowneReligio Medici
If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we should find in each man's life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostilityHenry Wadsworth LongfellowDriftwood
In other languages
enemy
British English: enemy /ˈɛnəmɪ/ NOUN
Your enemy is someone who intends to harm you.
...her many enemies.
American English: enemy
Arabic: عَدُوّ
Brazilian Portuguese: inimigo
Chinese: 敌人
Croatian: neprijatelj
Czech: nepřítel
Danish: fjende
Dutch: vijand
European Spanish: enemigo
Finnish: vihollinen
French: ennemi
German: Feind
Greek: εχθρός
Italian: nemico
Japanese: 敵
Korean: 원수 증오하다
Norwegian: fiende
Polish: nieprzyjaciel
European Portuguese: inimigo
Romanian: inamic
Russian: враг
Latin American Spanish: enemigo
Swedish: fiende
Thai: ศัตรู
Turkish: düşman
Ukrainian: ворог
Vietnamese: kẻ thù
All related terms of 'enemy'
the Enemy
the Devil ; Satan
enemy alien
a citizen of one country living in another country with which it is at war, and viewed as suspect as a result
enemy fire
You can use fire to refer to the shots fired from a gun or guns.
common enemy
If someone is your enemy , they are opposed to you and to what you think or do.
deadly enemy
If someone is your enemy , they hate you or want to harm you.
enemy action
offensive military action by your military enemy
enemy soldier
A soldier is a person who works in an army , especially a person who is not an officer.
public enemy
a notorious person, such as a criminal , who is regarded as a menace to the public
enemy aircraft
An aircraft is a vehicle which can fly, for example an aeroplane or a helicopter .
enemy-occupied
occupied by a military enemy
enemy position
The position of someone or something is the place where they are in relation to other things.
powerful enemy
If someone is your enemy , they are opposed to you and to what you think or do.
public enemy number one
the worst enemy of or greatest threat to a country
Chinese translation of 'enemy'
enemy
(ˈɛnəmɪ)
n
(c) (= opponent) 敌(敵)人 (dírén) (个(個), gè)
the enemy (Mil) 敌(敵)军(軍) (díjūn)
cpd
[forces, strategy, aircraft]敌(敵)方的 (dífāng de)
to make an enemy of sb使某人与(與)自己为(為)敌(敵) (shǐ mǒurén yǔ zìjǐ wéidí)
(noun)
Definition
a person who is hostile or opposed to a person, group, or idea
His enemies were quick to take advantage of his weakness.
Synonyms
foe (formal, literary)
support any friend, oppose any foe
rival
He finished two seconds ahead of his rival.
opponent
Mrs Kennedy's opponent in the leadership contest
the opposition
competitor
The bank isn't performing as well as some of its competitors.
the other side
adversary
His political adversaries were creating trouble for him.
antagonist
He had never previously lost to his antagonist.
Opposites
friend
, ally,
supporter
, confederate,
main man (slang, mainly US)
,
cobber (Australian, New Zealand, old-fashioned, informal)
related words
related adjectiveinimical
Quotations
Pay attention to your enemies, for they are the first to discover your mistakes [Antisthenes]You can discover what your enemy fears most by observing the means he uses to frighten you [Eric Hoffer – The Passionate State of Mind]A man cannot be too careful in the choice of his enemies [Oscar Wilde – Lady Windermere's Fan]A very great man once said you should love your enemies, and that's not a bad piece of advice. We can love them, but, by God, that doesn't mean we're not going to fight them [Norman Schwarzkopf]The enemy advances, we retreat. The enemy camps, we harass. The enemy tires, we attack. The enemy retreats, we pursue [Mao Zedong – slogan for his troops]We have met the enemy and he is us [Walt Kelly – Pogo]Yet is every man his own greatest enemy, and as it were his own executioner [Thomas Browne – Religio Medici]If we could read the secret history of our enemies, we should find in each man's life sorrow and suffering enough to disarm all hostility [Henry Wadsworth Longfellow – Driftwood]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of adversary
Definition
an opponent in a fight, disagreement, or sporting contest
His political adversaries were creating trouble for him.
Synonyms
opponent,
rival,
opposer,
enemy,
competitor,
foe (formal, literary),
contestant,
antagonist
in the sense of antagonist
Definition
an opponent or adversary
He had never previously lost to his antagonist.
Synonyms
opponent,
rival,
opposer,
enemy,
competitor,
contender,
foe (formal, literary),
adversary
in the sense of competitor
Definition
a person, team, or firm that competes
The bank isn't performing as well as some of its competitors.