opponent

UK: /əˈpəʊnənt/ US: /əˈpoʊnənt/ ,(ə pō′nənt)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

op•po•nent /əˈpoʊnənt/   n. [countable]

1. a person who is on an opposing side in a game, argument, controversy, or the like;
   adversary.

See -pon-.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

op•po•nent  (ə pō′nənt), n. 

1. a person who is on an opposing side in a game, contest, controversy, or the like;
   adversary.

adj. 

2. being opposite, as in position.
3. opposing;
   adverse;
   antagonistic.
4. Anatomy bringing parts together or into opposition, as a muscle.

• Latin oppōnent- (stem of oppōnēns, present participle of oppōnere to place over, against, or in front of, make an obstacle), equivalent. to op- op- + pōn(ere) to place, set, put + -ent- -ent
• 1580–90

Synonyms

• 1. antagonist.
  Opponent, competitor, rival refer to persons engaged in a contest.
  Opponent is the most impersonal, meaning merely one who opposes; perhaps one who continually blocks and frustrates or one who happens to be on the opposite side in a temporary contest:
  an opponent in a debate.
  Competitor emphasizes the action in striving against another, or others, for a definite, common goal:
  competitors in business.
  Rival has both personal and emotional connotations; it emphasizes the idea that (usually) two persons are struggling to attain the same object:
  rivals for an office.

Antonyms

• 1. ally, friend.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

opponent / əˈpəʊnənt/ noun

1. a person who opposes another in a contest, battle, etc
2. an opponent muscle

adjective

1. opposite, as in position
2. (of a muscle) bringing two parts into opposition
3. opposing; contrary

Etymology: 16th Century: from Latin oppōnere to oppose, from ob- against + pōnere to place

opˈponency noun