The meaning of ADVERSARIAL is involving two people or two sides who oppose each other : of, relating to, or characteristic of an adversary or adversary procedures.

Opposing & against (Definition of adversarial from the Cambridge Advanced Learner's Dictionary & Thesaurus © Cambridge University Press)

Being adversarial means that each side is antagonistic, sharply opposed to the other, or locked into a deeply divided rivalry. In fact, this adjective is sometimes used simply to mean "hostile."

(especially of political or legal systems) involving people who are in opposition and who argue against each other. Definition of adversarial adjective in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, …

Relating to or characteristic of an adversary; involving antagonistic elements: "Some speakers fall almost willingly into an adversarial relationship with the audience" (Don Pfarrer).

Aug 4, 2025 · Adjective adversarial (comparative more adversarial, superlative most adversarial) Characteristic of, or in the manner of, an adversary; combative, hostile, opposed.

adversarial, adj. meanings, etymology, pronunciation and more in the Oxford English Dictionary

Adversarial definition: Relating to or characteristic of an adversary; involving antagonistic elements.

If you describe something as adversarial, you mean that it involves two or more people or organizations who are opposing each other.

involving adversaries, as plaintiff and defendant in a legal proceeding: an adversary trial. ad′ver•sar′i•ness, n. 1. Adversary, antagonist mean a person or a group contending against another. …