Phrase guide

public enemy number one

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

A person who ranks highest on the federal government's prioritized list of wanted criminal fugitives.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US, dated, uncountable

Topics: government, law-enforcement

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A person, organization, or other object considered to be particularly menacing, harmful, or loathsome.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: figuratively, uncountable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

2 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • German: Staatsfeind Nummer eins — Translations
  • German: Staatsfeindin Nummer eins — Translations