[noun] [C] - a person who disagrees with something and speaks against it or tries to change it, or the person being competed against in a sports eventLeading opponents of the proposed cuts in defence spending will meet later today. Compare proponent.In the second game her opponent hurt her leg and had to retire.See also oppose.
OPPONENT
Meaning of OPPONENT in English
Cambridge English vocab. Кембриджский английский словарь. 2012