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

• tournament
• event
• game
• contest
• match

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

Their manager, Sarina Wiegman, has an extraordinary record in this competition, having won it with both the Netherlands and England. —Darren Richman, New York Times, 5 July 2025

After beginning his Team Penske career in 2007 as a sports car tire specialist, Law rose through the ranks to become a championship-winning chief mechanic in the IndyCar Series before enjoying the same success in sports car competition. —Bruce Martin, Forbes.com, 4 July 2025

The Fourth of July competition is the Super Bowl of eating events, and after being away for a year, Chestnut is ready to make his return to glory. —Ben Verbrugge, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 July 2025

Similar to Chestnut, Kobayashi was banned from competing in the Nathan’s competition due to a contract dispute in 2010. —Elise Hammond, CNN Money, 4 July 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