Other forms: opponents
Your opponent is the person on the other side of the contest. The one across the chessboard, the one at the far end of the tennis court, the team in the different shirts.
It covers any kind of contest, not only sport: an opponent in an election, in a court case, in a debate. The word also names people who are against a plan or an idea, and there it takes of — an opponent of the new law, opponents of the bridge scheme — and that is the use you meet most in the news. Opponent is neutral. It says nothing about dislike, which is why a good player will shake an opponent's hand at the end. If there is real bad feeling, the word is enemy; if the two of you keep meeting, you are rivals.
1nounopponentThe person or team you are playing or competing against.
“Her opponent in the final was ten years younger.”
synonyms: rival, adversary, competitor
2nouncriticSomeone who is against a plan, policy or idea.
“Opponents of the scheme gathered outside the town hall.”
synonyms: critic, objector
opponent is a person on the other side of a contest.
Also accepted in games: rival
Opponent is Latin oppōnēns, opposing — the present participle of oppōnō, to oppose, which literally means to put something in the way. An opponent is the one placed against you. English borrowed the participle whole and turned it into a person.
Proto-Indo-European
*tḱey-
Latin
oppōnēns — opposing
English, today
opponent
Built from
Borrowed from Latin oppōnēns (“opposing”), present active participle of oppōnō (“to oppose”).
Etymology from Wiktionary, CC BY-SA