Enemy vs Rival

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Enemy

Top 1,000 (very common) B1 noun

Rival

Top 2,000 (common) B2 noun

Most common: Enemy

	Enemy	Rival
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 /["/ˈenəmi/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/ˈenəmi/"]/	🇬🇧 //ˈraɪvəl// 🇺🇸 //ˈraɪvəl//
Meaning	A person or group that you fight against or do not like.	A person who competes with another.
Example	In the game, you must defeat the enemy to progress to the next level.	She emerged as a strong rival in the competition.
Register	Neutral	Neutral
How common	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR level	B1	B2
Part of speech	noun	noun
Collocations	bitter, deadly, great, have, make, attack, attack somebody/​something, army, forces, soldiers, against an/​the enemy, enemy of, your own worst enemy, fall into enemy hands, in the face of the enemy, bitter, deadly, great, have, make, attack, attack somebody/​something, army, forces, soldiers, against an/​the enemy, enemy of, your own worst enemy, fall into enemy hands, in the face of the enemy	rival team, rival company, rival schools
Antonyms	friend, ally, supporter	ally, friend, partner
Common mistakes	Confused with 'friend' or 'foe'., Using 'enemey' as a common misspelling., Overusing in non-combat contexts, when a word like 'opponent' may fit better.	Confusing 'rival' with 'enemy' - rivals aren't always enemies., Using 'rival' as a verb incorrectly., Mixing singular 'rival' with plural contexts.
Usage notes	Commonly used in both spoken and written English. Avoid using in overly casual situations unless it fits the context, like in games or stories.	Use in competitive contexts, such as sports or business. Avoid in casual, everyday conversations unless relevant.

See it in real clips

Captain, you just let the enemy go.

Sherlock › S1 E1

- A friend? - An enemy.

... and that makes them our enemy.

Captain, you just let the enemy go.

Sherlock › S1 E1

- A friend? - An enemy.

Enemy

Frequently asked questions: Enemy vs Rival

What's the difference between Enemy and Rival?

Enemy: A person or group that you fight against or do not like. Rival: A person who competes with another.

Which is more common: Enemy and Rival?

Enemy is the most common in everyday English.

Which is more advanced: Enemy and Rival?

Rival is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.

Are Enemy and Rival the same CEFR level?

Enemy: B1, Rival: B2 on the CEFR scale.

What part of speech are Enemy and Rival?

Enemy: noun, Rival: noun.

Can you show an example of each?

Enemy: In the game, you must defeat the enemy to progress to the next level. Rival: She emerged as a strong rival in the competition.

Can I use Enemy and Rival interchangeably?

Not always. Enemy and Rival are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.