competition

[ kom-pi-tish-uhn ]

noun

1. the act of competing; rivalry for supremacy, a prize, etc.:

   The competition between the two teams was bitter.

   Synonyms: emulation

2. a contest for some prize, honor, or advantage:

   Both girls entered the competition.

   Synonyms: struggle

3. the rivalry offered by a competitor:

   The small merchant gets powerful competition from the chain stores.

4. a competitor or competitors:

   What is your competition offering?

5. Sociology. rivalry between two or more persons or groups for an object desired in common, usually resulting in a victor and a loser but not necessarily involving the destruction of the latter.
6. Ecology. the struggle among organisms, both of the same and of different species, for food, space, and other vital requirements.

competition

/ ˌkɒmpɪˈtɪʃən /

noun

1. the act of competing; rivalry
2. a contest in which a winner is selected from among two or more entrants
3. a series of games, sports events, etc
4. the opposition offered by a competitor or competitors
5. a competitor or competitors offering opposition
6. ecology the struggle between individuals of the same or different species for food, space, light, etc, when these are inadequate to supply the needs of all

competition

/ kŏm′pĭ-tĭsh′ən /

1. The simultaneous demand by two or more organisms for limited environmental resources, such as nutrients, living space, or light.

Other Words From

• noncom·pe·tition adjective
• procom·pe·tition adjective
• super·compe·tition noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of competition¹

First recorded in 1595–1605; from Late Latin competītiōn-, stem of competītiō “agreement, rivalry,” from competīt(us) “agreed, met” (past participle of competere “to agree, come together, meet”; compete ( def ) ) + -iō -ion; sense influenced by competitor

Example Sentences

But over the international break Villa were left to stew on four consecutive defeats in all competitions and a record of just one win in six in the Premier League.

From BBC

Brown harvested around 200 peaches this year from his small orchard — enough for his family and neighbors — but he had competition: A fox has been poking around.

From Salon

But unlike that ABC series, “The Later Daters” emphasizes self-improvement rather than competition.

From Los Angeles Times

On the back of four successive defeats in all competitions, the chances of Manchester City signing a replacement for injured midfielder Rodri have increased once again.

From BBC

The proposed remedies stem from a landmark anti-competition ruling in August, in which Judge Mehta found Google illegally crushed its competition in online search.

From BBC

Related Words

• championship
• clash
• event
• fight
• game
• match
• meeting
• race
• rivalry
• sport
• struggle
• tournament
• trial