challenger

[ chal-in-jer ]

noun

1. a person or thing that challenges.
2. Boxing. a boxer who fights a champion for his championship title.
3. Radio. interrogator ( def 2 ).
4. none Challenger. U.S. Aerospace. the second space shuttle to orbit and return to earth: exploded 1½ min. after launch on Jan. 28, 1986, causing the death of all seven on board.

Other Words From

• non·chal·leng·er noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of challenger¹

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; challenge, -er ¹

Example Sentences

In a district that sprawls from the Inland Empire into the Coachella Valley, Democratic challenger Will Rollins is hoping to unseat longtime GOP Rep. Ken Calvert.

From Los Angeles Times

There is a real challenger to Etiwanda’s supremacy in Ontario Christian, which picked up two elite freshmen in 6-6 Sydney Douglas and 5-11 Tatianna Griffin to combine with sophomore sensation Kaleena Smith, who averaged 34.9 points as a freshman.

From Los Angeles Times

Those ballots could impact the 41st Congressional District, where Republican incumbent Rep. Ken Calvert holds a lead over Democratic challenger Will Rollins.

From Los Angeles Times

In Orange County’s 45th Congressional District, where the contentious battle between GOP Rep. Michelle Steel and Democratic challenger Derek Tran may come down to a few thousand votes, volunteers are gearing up to work nearly 40 hours to cure ballots until the Dec. 1 deadline.

From Los Angeles Times

Republican Rep. David Valadao managed to once again fend off Democratic challenger Rudy Salas to keep his seat representing California’s 22nd Congressional District in the Central Valley.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• contender