competitive

adjective

com·​pet·​i·​tive kəm-ˈpe-tə-tiv 

1

: relating to, characterized by, or based on competition

competitive sports

a competitive marketplace

2

: inclined, desiring, or suited to compete

a competitive personality

competitive interest rates

3

: depending for effectiveness on the relative concentration of two or more substances

competitive inhibition of an enzyme

competitively adverb

competitiveness noun

Examples of competitive in a Sentence

She is a very competitive player.

You need a degree to be competitive in today's job market.

Recent Examples on the Web

This week, both of Langley’s full-lengths — the only two included in her catalog — rise to their all-time peaks on the most competitive albums roster for country music. — Hugh McIntyre, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026

CFMoto On paper, the Ibex 950 looks less like an attempt to build a cheap adventure bike and more like a direct bid to build a genuinely competitive one. — New Atlas, 22 Aug. 2026

The team finished its competitive season in June at the Sunshine State Games in Ocala, where the Novice category won first place and earned the high-point award. — Verónica Egui Brito, Miami Herald, 22 Aug. 2026

Instead, the source attributes Fields’ actions to tensions brewing from competitive football and some questionable plays in practice. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

see competition

First Known Use

1829, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing competitive

• hyper-competitive

Rhymes for competitive

• appetitive
• repetitive
• anticompetitive
• noncompetitive
• uncompetitive

Kids Definition

competitive

adjective

com·​pet·​i·​tive kəm-ˈpet-ət-iv 

: relating to, characterized by, or based on competition

competitive sports

competitive bidding

competitively adverb

competitiveness noun

Medical Definition

competitive

adjective

com·​pet·​i·​tive kəm-ˈpet-ət-iv 

: depending for effectiveness on the relative concentration of two or more substances

competitive inhibition of an enzyme

competitive protein binding

competitively adverb