competition

noun

com·​pe·​ti·​tion ˌkäm-pə-ˈti-shən 

1

: the act or process of competing : rivalry: such as

a

: the effort of two or more parties acting independently to secure the business of a third party by offering the most favorable terms

contractors in competition for the contract to build the new school

b

: active demand by two or more organisms or kinds of organisms for some environmental resource in short supply

the interspecies competition for food

2

: a contest between rivals

a gymnastics competition

also : one's competitors

faced tough competition

Synonyms

• bout
• contest
• event
• game
• match
• matchup
• meet
• sweepstakes
• sweep-stake
• tournament
• tourney

Examples of competition in a Sentence

Prices are lower when there is competition among the stores.

Don't let the competition know our trade secrets.

They had a competition to see who could sell the most lemonade.

Recent Examples on the Web

Arsenal were eventually triumphant and went on to win that year’s competition. —Jessy Parker Humphreys, The Athletic, 19 Mar. 2025

At a time when utility rates continue to climb — particularly distribution charges which have risen by double digits over the past decade — the new law removes competition and locks customers into a monopoly system that is already out of control. —Reader Commentary, Baltimore Sun, 19 Mar. 2025

The event will feature designers from around the country taking part in the fashion show competition, with the ultimate prize of designing a special apparel collection with Her Universe. —Kimberly Nordyke, The Hollywood Reporter, 19 Mar. 2025

Under the new partnership with AMI, the section’s international jury will award Le Grand Prix AMI Paris to one of the seven movies in competition this year. —Melanie Goodfellow, Deadline, 19 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Late Latin competition-, competitio, from Latin competere — see compete

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing competition

• in competition with
• the competition

Rhymes for competition

• abolition
• acquisition
• admonition
• ammunition
• apparition
• apposition
• coalition
• composition
• definition
• deglutition
• demolition
• deposition

Kids Definition

competition

noun

com·​pe·​ti·​tion ˌkäm-pə-ˈtish-ən 

1

: the act or process of competing

2

a

: a contest between rivals

b

: rivalry

c

: an individual or group one is competing against

look over the competition

3

: the effort of persons or firms to attract business by offering the most favorable terms

4

: the active seeking after and use of an environmental resource (as food) in limited supply by two or more plants or animals or kinds of plants and animals