tournament

[ toor-nuh-muhnt, tur- ]

noun

1. a trial of skill in some game, in which competitors play a series of contests:

   a chess tournament.

2. a meeting for contests in a variety of sports, as between teams of different nations.
3. History/Historical.
   1. a contest or martial sport in which two opposing parties of mounted and armored combatants fought for a prize, with blunted weapons and in accordance with certain rules.
   2. a meeting at an appointed time and place for the performance of knightly exercises and sports.

tournament

/ ˈtɜː-; ˈtʊənəmənt; ˈtɔː- /

noun

1. a sporting competition in which contestants play a series of games to determine an overall winner
2. a meeting for athletic or other sporting contestants

   an archery tournament

3. medieval history
   1. (originally) a martial sport or contest in which mounted combatants fought for a prize
   2. (later) a meeting for knightly sports and exercises

Other Words From

• pre·tourna·ment noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of tournament¹

1175–1225; Middle English tornement < Old French torneiement, equivalent to torne ( ier ) to tourney + -ment -ment

Word History and Origins

Origin of tournament¹

C13: from Old French torneiement, from torneier to fight on horseback, literally: to turn, from the constant wheeling round of the combatants; see tourney

Example Sentences

The 17-year-old was 9-7 down and on the brink of exiting the tournament, but won three consecutive legs to secure a meeting with Jermaine Wattimena.

From BBC

History and hindsight have made it a little difficult to contextualize what the Lakers accomplished last winter, the team hoisting a trophy and hanging a banner after winning the NBA’s first in-season tournament championship.

From Los Angeles Times

LeBron James, the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, said his thoughts Friday will be elsewhere when the Cup defense begins — and that’s the health of Spurs coach Gregg Popovich, who recently suffered a mild stroke.

From Los Angeles Times

It also opens the Lakers’ defense of their NBA Cup in-season tournament championship — something James admitted Wednesday he hadn’t even thought about before a reporter brought it up.

From Los Angeles Times

It means that if the Scots are in pot three they could face a tricky route to a first World Cup in what will be 28 years by the time the tournament rolls around.

From BBC

Related Words

• contest
• event
• fight
• match
• meeting
• series
• sport
• test
• tourney