foe

1 of 2

noun

ˈfō 

1

: one who has personal enmity for another

Embrace, embrace, my Sons! be foes no more!

—Alexander Pope

2

a

: an enemy in war

b

: adversary, opponent

a political foe

3

: one who opposes on principle

a foe of needless expenditures

a foe of censorship

4

: something prejudicial or injurious

FOE

2 of 2

abbreviation

Fraternal Order of Eagles

Synonyms

Noun

• adversary
• antagonist
• enemy
• hostile
• opponent

Examples of foe in a Sentence

Noun

Many considered him a foe of democracy.

Her ability was acknowledged by friend and foe alike.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

This is a rematch of an October game won by Lake Mary 29-14 and these are familiar foes. —Staff Reports, Orlando Sentinel, 29 Nov. 2024

The Ravens have averaged 33 points in dispatching three NFC foes this season. —Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun, 29 Nov. 2024

And why Republicans are throwing out all sorts of names for the governorship, two years in advance, including state Sen. Jake Hoffman, a vocal Hobbs foe, and Turning Point founder Charlie Kirk, a key Trump operative. —Joanna Allhands, The Arizona Republic, 28 Nov. 2024

What will happen when these Premier League foes meet on Monday? —Tom Rogers, Newsweek, 26 Nov. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English fo, from Old English fāh, from fāh, adjective, hostile; akin to Old High German gifēh hostile

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing foe

• mortal foe/rival

Kids Definition

foe

noun

ˈfō 

1

: one who hates another

2

: an enemy in war