enemy

Universal Words noun (plural enemies) 1 [C] a person who hates sb or who acts or speaks against sb/sth: He has a lot of enemies in the company. * After just one day, she had already made an enemy of her manager. * They used to be friends but they are now sworn enemies (= are determined not to become friends again). * 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). seealsoENMITY 2 (the enemy) [sing.+sing./pl.v.] a country that you are fighting a war against; the soldiers, etc. of this country: The enemy was / were forced to retreat. * enemy forces / aircraft / territory * behind enemy lines (= the area controlled by the enemy) 3 [C] ~ (of sth) (formal) anything that harms sth or prevents it from being successful: Poverty and ignorance are the enemies of progress. IDIOMS see WORSTadj.