- [countable] a person who hates somebody or who acts or speaks against somebody/something
- She didn't have an enemy in the world.
- He has a lot of enemies in the company.
- After just one day, she had already made an enemy of her manager.
- They united in the face of a common enemy.
- They used to be friends but they are now sworn enemies (= are determined not to become friends again).
- James Moriarty was Sherlock Holmes's mortal enemy.
- It is rare to find a prominent politician with few political enemies.
- The state has a duty to protect its citizens against external enemies.
- Birds are the natural enemies of many insect pests (= they kill them).
- The enemy of my enemy is my friend.
- ‘We will defeat the enemies of freedom,’ said the president.
Extra ExamplesTopics Preferences and decisionsb1- He turned to face his enemy.
- He was prepared to use any weapon to fight against his enemies.
- I didn't want to make an enemy of Mr Evans.
- In today's match England play their old enemy, Scotland.
- It is important to know your enemy.
- The Church and the Communist Party were natural enemies.
- The cat uses its claws to protect itself against enemies.
- The lion is the zebra's chief enemy.
- The skunk releases a pungent smell to deter its enemies.
- Thousands of perceived enemies of the State were imprisoned.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- bitter
- deadly
- great
- …
- have
- make
- attack
- …
- attack somebody/something
- army
- forces
- soldiers
- …
- against an/the enemy
- enemy of
- your own worst enemy
- fall into enemy hands
- in the face of the enemy
- …
Want to learn more?
Find out which words work together and produce more natural-sounding English with the Oxford Collocations Dictionary app. Try it for free as part of the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.
- the enemy[singular + singular or plural verb] a country or group that you are fighting a war against; the soldiers, etc. of this country or group
- The enemy was/were forced to retreat.
- to fight/defeat the enemy
- enemy forces/combatants
- The men came under enemy fire.
- They were dropped by parachute behind enemy lines (= in the area controlled by the enemy).
Collocations War and peaceWar and peaceStarting a war- declare/make/wage war (on somebody/something)
- go to war (against/with somebody)
- cause/spark/provoke/foment/quell unrest
- incite/lead/crush/suppress a revolt/rebellion
- launch/mount/carry out a surprise/terrorist attack
- prevent/halt/represent an escalation of the conflict
- be torn apart by/be on the brink of civil war
- enter/invade/occupy somebody’s territory
- lead/launch/resist/repel an invasion
- adopt/develop/implement/pursue a military strategy
- carry out/execute/perform military operations/manoeuvres
- send/deploy/station/pull back/withdraw troops
- go on/fly/carry out a reconnaissance/rescue mission
- train/equip/deploy army/military/combat units
- lead/launch/conduct a raid/a surprise attack/an (air/airborne/amphibious) assault (on somebody)
- employ/use guerrilla tactics
- conduct/wage biological/guerrilla warfare
- fight/crush/defeat the rebels/the insurgency
- suffer/inflict a crushing defeat
- achieve/win a decisive victory
- halt/stop the British/German/Russian advance
- order/force a retreat
- join/serve in the army/navy/air force
- be/go/remain/serve on active duty
- serve/complete/return from a tour of duty
- be sent to the front (line)
- attack/strike/engage/defeat/kill/destroy the enemy
- see/report/be engaged in heavy fighting
- call for/be met with armed resistance
- come under heavy/machine-gun/mortar fire
- fire a machine-gun/mortar shells/rockets (at somebody/something)
- shoot a rifle/a pistol/bullets/missiles
- launch/fire a cruise/ballistic/anti-tank missile
- use biological/chemical/nuclear weapons
- inflict/suffer/sustain heavy losses/casualties
- be hit/killed by enemy/friendly/artillery fire
- become/be held as a prisoner of war
- harm/kill/target/protect innocent/unarmed civilians
- cause/avoid/limit/minimize civilian casualties/collateral damage
- impose/enforce/lift a curfew
- engage in/be a victim of ethnic cleansing
- be sent to an internment/a concentration camp
- accept/house/resettle refugees fleeing from war
- fear/threaten military/violent reprisals
- commit/be accused of war crimes/crimes against humanity/genocide
- make/bring/win/achieve/maintain/promote peace
- call for/negotiate/broker/declare a ceasefire/a temporary truce
- sign a ceasefire agreement
- call for/bring/put an end to hostilities
- demand/negotiate/accept the surrender of somebody/something
- establish/send (in) a peacekeeping force
- negotiate/conclude/ratify/sign/accept/reject/break/violate a peace treaty
Extra ExamplesTopics War and conflictb1- They decided to use the weapon against the enemy.
- He was shot for desertion in the face of the enemy.
- the first casualty from enemy action
- The spies managed to penetrate behind enemy lines.
- The document must not at any price fall into enemy hands.
- Intelligence reported enemy activity just off the coast.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- bitter
- deadly
- great
- …
- have
- make
- attack
- …
- attack somebody/something
- army
- forces
- soldiers
- …
- against an/the enemy
- enemy of
- your own worst enemy
- fall into enemy hands
- in the face of the enemy
- …
- [countable] (formal) anything that harms something or prevents it from being successful
- Poverty and ignorance are the enemies of progress.
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French enemi, from Latin inimicus, from in- ‘not’ + amicus ‘friend’.
Idioms
See enemy in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee enemy in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishbe your own worst enemy
- to be the cause of your own problems
- Her indecisiveness makes her her own worst enemy.
- Some dancers become their own worst enemies, criticizing themselves for every imperfection.
Check pronunciation:
enemy