# adversary

> English word · Noun · IPA /ˈæd.və.sɛɹi/ · frequency rank #19,752

## Definitions
1. An opponent or rival.

## Etymology
From Middle English adversarie, from Anglo-Norman aversaire (in Wace's Life of Saint Margaret) and Old French aversier, aversaire (French adversaire), from Latin adversārius, from adversus (“turned toward”).

## Easily confused with
- **adversity** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/adversary-vs-adversity)
- **adversely** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/adversary-vs-adversely)

## Common misspellings (14)
`addversary`, `adevrsary`, `adverasry`, `adverrsary`, `adversarry`, `adversaryy`, `adversayr`, `adversray`, `adverssary`, `advesrary`, `advresary`, `advversary`, `avdersary`, `daversary`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/adversary