Public Enemy

Pronunciation: /ˈpʌblɪk ˈɛnəmi/

Definitions of public enemy

noun A person or group that is considered a threat or danger to society or a particular community.

Example Sentences

A1 The public enemy was captured by the police.

A2 The public enemy's face was plastered all over the news.

B1 The public enemy's crimes were well-known throughout the city.

B2 The public enemy was finally brought to justice after years of evading capture.

C1 The public enemy's notoriety grew as they continued to commit acts of terrorism.

C2 The public enemy's capture was hailed as a major victory for law enforcement.

Examples of public enemy in a Sentence

formal The criminal was considered a public enemy by the authorities.

informal That guy is like a public enemy around here, always causing trouble.

slang Watch out for that dude, he's a real public enemy.

figurative In the world of fashion, wearing fur can be seen as a public enemy act.

Grammatical Forms of public enemy

• past tense: public enemies
• plural: public enemies
• comparative: more public enemy
• superlative: most public enemy
• present tense: is a public enemy
• future tense: will be a public enemy
• perfect tense: has been a public enemy
• continuous tense: is being a public enemy
• singular: public enemy
• positive degree: public enemy
• infinitive: to be a public enemy
• gerund: being a public enemy
• participle: being a public enemy

Origin and Evolution of public enemy

First Known Use: 1601 year

Language of Origin: Latin

Story behind the word: The term 'public enemy' originated in ancient Rome where it was used to refer to individuals who posed a threat to the state or public order.

Evolution of the word: Over time, the term 'public enemy' has evolved to refer to individuals or groups who are widely perceived as a threat to society or the public good, often due to criminal activities or actions that go against the norms and values of a community.