Foe Definition & Meaning

American

British

Related Words

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms foe 1 American [foh] / foʊ /

noun

1. a person who feels enmity, hatred, or malice toward another; enemy.

   a bitter foe.

   Synonyms: antagonist, opponent Antonyms: friend

2. a military enemy; hostile army.

   Antonyms: friend

3. a person belonging to a hostile army or nation.

   Synonyms: antagonist, opponent Antonyms: friend

4. an opponent in a game or contest; adversary.

   a political foe.

   Synonyms: antagonist, opponent

5. a person who is opposed in feeling, principle, etc., to something.

   a foe to progress in civil rights.

   Synonyms: antagonist, opponent

6. a thing that is harmful to or destructive of something.

   Sloth is the foe of health.

F.O.E. 2 American

abbreviation

1. Fraternal Order of Eagles.

FoE 1 British

abbreviation

1. Friends of the Earth

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 foe 2 British / fəʊ /

noun

1. formal another word for enemy

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See enemy.

Etymology

Origin of foe

First recorded before 900; Middle English foo, Old English fāh “hostile,” gefāh “enemy”; cognate with Old High German gifēh “at war”; feud 1

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The chaos can make it difficult for air-defense units on the ground to sort out which flying objects are friend or foe.

From The Wall Street Journal

MUNICH—When the full-scale Russian invasion began, Western defense manufacturers rushed their modern weaponry into Ukraine, helping Kyiv drive back a much more powerful foe.

From The Wall Street Journal

Despite a shared enmity for the United States and Israel, the Shiite and Sunni militias are bitter sectarian foes.

From Los Angeles Times

It was a gritty upset victory over a foe widely considered more talented, made possible through determination and sheer force of will.

From Los Angeles Times

While Russia’s economy and military face major obstacles, it is still a formidable foe, especially given the weight of China’s economy and military behind it.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• adversary
• antagonist
• enemy
• rival

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.