1. One who opposes or inflicts injury on another; an antagonist.
2. An opposing military force.
3. A state with which another state is at war.
— Also termed public enemy.
4. A person possessing the nationality of the state with which one is at war.
— Also termed enemy subject.
5. A foreign state that is openly hostile to another whose position is being considered.
alien enemy. See ALIEN.
public enemy.
1. A notorious criminal who is a menace to society; esp., one who seems more or less immune from successful prosecution.
2. ENEMY(3).
3. A social, health, or economic condition or problem that affects the public at large and is difficult to control (teenage smoking has been declared a public enemy in this country).
