opponent

/əˈpəʊ.nənt/

//əˈpəʊ.nənt// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"opponent" is a 8-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“opponent” is a regularly-used English word, ranked #5,147 in English word frequency and used as a noun.

#5,147
frequency rank, English
8
letters
10
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - One who opposes another; one who works or takes a position against someone or something; one who attempts to stop the progress of someone or something.

Key facts for opponent
PropertyValue
Headwordopponent
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/əˈpəʊ.nənt/
Letters8
Frequency rank#5,147
Misspellings tracked10
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “opponent” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). opponent lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Spelling & Dictionary Insight

The English entry for opponent is 8 letters long, classified as a noun, and transcribed in the International Phonetic Alphabet as /əˈpəʊ.nənt/. Corpus data places it at rank #5,147 in overall English word frequency, indicating it appears regularly in written and spoken text. Wiktionary records 5 distinct senses for this headword, so context determines which meaning a reader should apply.

Our generated misspelling index lists 10 likely wrong-spelling variants for opponent, with forms such as "oponent", "opopnent", and "oppnoent". Each of these forms differs from the correct spelling by one small edit: a doubled letter, a dropped silent letter, or a substituted vowel. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, which usually means its spelling is distinct enough that readers don't reach for a similar-looking word instead.

Etymologically, the entry records: Borrowed from Latin oppōnēns (“opposing”), present active participle of oppōnō (“to oppose”). The correct English form is opponent, spelled O-P-P-O-N-E-N-T.

Definition

  1. 1
    One who opposes another; one who works or takes a position against someone or something; one who attempts to stop the progress of someone or something.
  2. 2
    One who opposes another; one who works or takes a position against someone or something; one who attempts to stop the progress of someone or something.
  3. 3
    One who opposes another; one who works or takes a position against someone or something; one who attempts to stop the progress of someone or something.
  4. 4
    One who opposes another; one who works or takes a position against someone or something; one who attempts to stop the progress of someone or something.
  5. 5
    One who opposes another; one who works or takes a position against someone or something; one who attempts to stop the progress of someone or something.

Etymology

Borrowed from Latin oppōnēns (“opposing”), present active participle of oppōnō (“to oppose”).

Synonyms

adversaryantagonist

Antonyms

supporterproponentadvocaterespondent

This word in other languages

oponente(Español)opposant(Français)Gegner(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as: oponent,opopnent,oppnoent,oppoennt,opponennt,opponentt,opponetn,opponnent,opponnet,poponent

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of opponent - measured in single-character edits (insert, delete, or substitute a letter). Larger bars are easier to catch; one-edit slips are the sneakiest.

oponent1opopnent2oppnoent2oppoennt2opponennt1opponentt1opponetn2opponnent1
Edit distance from "opponent"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "opponent"?
"opponent" is spelled O-P-P-O-N-E-N-T. The IPA pronunciation is /əˈpəʊ.nənt/.
What does "opponent" mean?
As a noun, "opponent" means: One who opposes another; one who works or takes a position against someone or something; one who attempts to stop the progress of someone or something.
What are common misspellings of "opponent"?
Common misspellings include "oponent", "opopnent", "oppnoent", "oppoennt", "opponennt". The correct spelling is "opponent".
How do you pronounce "opponent"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "opponent" is /əˈpəʊ.nənt/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "opponent"?
Borrowed from Latin oppōnēns (“opposing”), present active participle of oppōnō (“to oppose”). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “opponent”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is O-P-P-O-N-E-N-T - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /əˈpəʊ.nənt/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words
Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list