public enemy

Pronunciation

• IPA ^(key): /ˈpʌblɪk ˈɛnəmi/

Noun

Singular public enemy

Plural public enemies

1. A public enemy is an enemy of the public (people), or someone who hurts the people. Usually, this means a criminal.

   They arrested public enemy number one yesterday.

2. (informal) Someone that most people do not like.

Related words

• public
• enemy