competitor

noun

com·​pet·​i·​tor kəm-ˈpe-tə-tər 

: one that competes: such as

a

: rival

a fierce competitor on the soccer field

b

: one selling or buying goods or services in the same market as another

offering lower prices than our competitors

c

: an organism that lives in competition with another

The squid population increased dramatically when food competitors were depleted by heavy overfishing.

Synonyms of competitor

• contestant
• contender
• rival
• challenger

Examples of competitor in a Sentence

We offer better rates than our competitors.

There were more than 500 competitors in the race.

Recent Examples on the Web

The success of these drugs, used to treat diabetes and obesity, has naturally caught the attention of Novo’s competitors. —Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 6 Nov. 2025

And a competitor analysis tool can be used for more than just collecting data. —K.h. Koehler, jsonline.com, 6 Nov. 2025

And perhaps most tellingly, the entire event was tinged with anticipation of Japan’s 2026 spotlight as the Cannes Film Market’s Country of Honor, a coronation that arrives just as Korean and Chinese competitors are nipping at Japanese content’s heels. —Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 6 Nov. 2025

Several other contestants, however, stood up and began to walk out of the room in support of their fellow competitor. —Julia Teti, Footwear News, 6 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

see competition

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

competitor

noun

com·​pet·​i·​tor kəm-ˈpet-ət-ər 

: one that competes especially in the selling of goods or services : rival