tournament

noun

tour·​na·​ment ˈtu̇r-nə-mənt 

 also  ˈtər-,

 or  ˈtȯr-

1

: a series of games or contests that make up a single unit of competition (as on a professional golf tour), the championship playoffs of a league or conference, or an invitational event

2

a

: a knightly sport of the Middle Ages between mounted combatants armed with blunted lances or swords and divided into two parties contesting for a prize or favor bestowed by the lady of the tournament

b

: the whole series of knightly sports, jousts, and tilts occurring at one time and place

Synonyms

• competition
• event
• game
• championship
• match
• contest
• tourney

Examples of tournament in a Sentence

She's an excellent tennis player who has won many tournaments.

a golf tournament in which professionals compete against amateurs

Recent Examples on the Web

All proceeds from the 32-player coed tournament go to support the Woman’s Club’s local philanthropic efforts. —Point Loma-Ob Monthly, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 Sep. 2025

Participants document Nike’s NYvsNY basketball tournament while attending workshops led by some of the most respected creatives in the industry. —Christopher Claxton, Billboard, 29 Sep. 2025

Domenic DiVincentiis played a full preseason game after excelling at the prospect tournament in Montreal, Thomas Milic played two periods and Isaac Poulter got just one period. —Murat Ates, New York Times, 29 Sep. 2025

His investment portfolio includes soccer tournament TST, restaurant franchise Slutty Vegan, luxury watch marketplace WatchBox and PlayersTV. —Scott Soshnick, Sportico.com, 29 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English tornement, from Anglo-French turneiement, from turneier

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Phrases Containing tournament

• pre-tournament

Kids Definition

tournament

noun

tour·​na·​ment ˈtu̇r-nə-mənt 

 also  ˈtər-,

 or  ˈtȯr-

1

: a contest of skill and courage between knights wearing armor and fighting with blunted lances or swords

2

: a contest or series of contests played for a championship