Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1500-1600
Language: Latin
Origin: , present participle of opponere; OPPOSE

opponent

 noun
     
Related topics: Sport
op‧po‧nent W3 [countable]
1DS someone who you try to defeat in a competition, game, fight, or argument:
Graf's opponent in today's final will be Sukova.
leading/main/chief opponent
During the primary elections, McCain was Bush's leading opponent.
formidable/worthy opponent
In debate he was a formidable opponent.
He is admired even by his political opponents.
2 someone who disagrees with a plan, idea, or system and wants to try to stop or change it
opponent of
Rodgers was not an opponent of the new airport.
bitter/vocal/outspoken opponent
an outspoken opponent of gun control
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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