adversary

UK:*UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈædvərsəri/US:USA pronunciation: IPA and respellingUSA pronunciation: IPA/ˈædvɚˌsɛri/ ,USA pronunciation: respelling(advər ser′ē)

Inflections of 'adversary' (n): npl: adversaries

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025
ad•ver•sar•y /ˈædvɚˌsɛri/USA pronunciation   n., pl. -ies. [countable]
  1. a person, group, etc., that opposes or attacks; opponent;
    enemy:She was a dangerous political adversary.
ad•ver•sar•i•al /ˌædvɚˈsɛriəl/USA pronunciation  adj. See -vert-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025
ad•ver•sar•y  (advər ser′ē),USA pronunciation n., pl. -sar•ies, adj. 
n. 
  1. a person, group, or force that opposes or attacks; opponent;
    enemy;
    foe.
  2. a person, group, etc., that is an opponent in a contest;
    contestant.
  3. the Adversary, the devil;
    Satan.

adj. Also,[esp. Brit.,] ad•ver•sar•i•al 
    (ad′vər•sârē•əl).USA pronunciation 
  1. of or pertaining to an adversary.
  2. involving adversaries, as plaintiff and defendant in a legal proceeding:an adversary trial.
  • Anglo-French
  • Latin adversārius, equivalent. to advers(us) (see adverse) + -ārius -ary; replacing Middle English adversere
  • Middle English adversarie 1300–50
adver•sar′i•ness, n. 
    • 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged Adversary, antagonist mean a person or a group contending against another.
      Adversary suggests an enemy who fights determinedly, continuously, and relentlessly:a formidable adversary.Antagonist suggests one who, in hostile spirit, opposes another, often in a particular contest or struggle:a duel with an antagonist.
    • 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged ally.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
adversary / ˈædvəsərɪ/ ( -saries)
  1. a person or group that is hostile to someone; enemy
  2. an opposing contestant in a game or sport
Etymology: 14th Century: from Latin adversārius, from adversus against. See adverse
'adversary' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

Forum discussions with the word(s) "adversary" in the title:


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