champion

noun

cham·pi·on | \ ˈcham-pē-ən

Definition of champion

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : a winner of first prize or first place in competition a tennis champion also : one who shows marked superiority a champion at selling

2 : a militant advocate or defender a champion of civil rights

3 : warrior, fighter a champion of his king

4 : one that does battle for another's rights or honor God will raise me up a champion— Sir Walter Scott

champion

verb

championed; championing; champions

Definition of champion (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to act as militant supporter of : uphold, advocate always champions the cause of the underdog

2 : to protect or fight for as a champion championed the ladies chivalrously in the tilts

3 archaic : challenge, defy

Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about champion

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Choose the Right Synonym for champion

Verb

support, uphold, advocate, back, champion mean to favor actively one that meets opposition. support is least explicit about the nature of the assistance given. supports waterfront development uphold implies extended support given to something attacked. upheld the legitimacy of the military action advocate stresses urging or pleading. advocated prison reform back suggests supporting by lending assistance to one failing or falling. refusing to back the call for sanctions champion suggests publicly defending one unjustly attacked or too weak to advocate his or her own cause. championed the rights of children

Examples of champion in a Sentence

Noun the heavyweight boxing champion of the world Our team will play the defending champions next week. the newly crowned national champions He was a champion for the working classes. Verb She is a lawyer who champions children's rights. Our senator championed the idea of lowering taxes.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun This year’s All-Star game will include honoring Hank Aaron, the Braves’ Hall of Famer and former career home run champion who died on Jan. 22 at age 86. — Tim Darnell, ajc, "Kudos, condemnation over MLB’s decision to move All-Star game from Atlanta," 2 Apr. 2021 John Morgridge was a member of the 1951 state, suburban and Cardinal Relays champion swim team, according to the district's news release. — Alec Johnson, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "A new aquatic center has opened at Wauwatosa East High School," 1 Apr. 2021 Highlands hasn’t lost since then, and won its 18th straight game in an 88-60 victory over Third Region champion Muhlenberg County in the first round of the KHSAA Boys Sweet Sixteen at Rupp Arena. — James Weber, The Enquirer, "Kentucky high school basketball: Highlands advances to state quarterfinals," 1 Apr. 2021 Velte was a 2018 World bronze medalist and 2020 Pan American champion. — Jeff Metcalfe, The Arizona Republic, "Valencia, Miracle head Arizona contenders at wrestling Olympic Trials," 1 Apr. 2021 Dundee, whose only dual match loss this season was to Davison, rolled in the semifinals, 72-6, against longtime nemesis Richmond, the three-time state runner-up and eight-time champion. — Brad Emons, Detroit Free Press, "Michigan high school wrestling: Double-DQ makes short path to final for New Lothrop," 31 Mar. 2021 South regional champion Baylor reached its first Final Four since 1950, a milestone many expected the Bears to achieve in 2020 before the emerging coronavirus pandemic canceled the tournament last March. — Laine Higgins, WSJ, "Two Weeks of Upsets Produce an Unsurprising Final Four (Except for UCLA)," 31 Mar. 2021 After the opening series, the A’s host the defending World Series champion Dodgers for three games, then play the Astros again in Houston. — Matt Kawahara, San Francisco Chronicle, "A's 'expecting to win the division,' bucking lower expectations, Matt Chapman says," 31 Mar. 2021 The last team to finished as an undefeated NCAA men’s champion was Indiana in 1976. — BostonGlobe.com, "Men’s Final Four analysis: All signs point to a perfect Gonzaga finish," 31 Mar. 2021 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb In his commercial work, that eye has long scored him jobs with high-profile brands that champion such iconography, including Marlboro and Coors. — Jessica Gelt, Los Angeles Times, "What do Diplo, cowboys and COVID lockdown have in common? Photographer Jim Krantz," 2 Mar. 2021 Wohl and Burkman are known for creating hoaxes and spreading misinformation in an effort to champion conservative causes and former President Donald Trump. — Dave Boucher, Detroit Free Press, "Detroit judge denies request to toss robocall charges against right-wing provocateurs," 24 Feb. 2021 Biden, who received a large chunk of the roughly $44 million teachers unions contributed during the 2020 election cycle, has continued to champion the unions' preferred positions as president, refusing to weigh in strongly in favor of reopening. — Jake Dima, Washington Examiner, "Mike Bloomberg urges Biden 'to stand up to' teachers unions on school reopenings," 4 Feb. 2021 Hong Kong will continue to champion principles of economic freedom in driving growth for many years to come. — WSJ, "Hong Kong Deserves to Be in Freedom Index," 10 Mar. 2021 The literary awards champion new voices and celebrate the highest quality of writing from authors at all stages of their careers. — Los Angeles Times, "The Los Angeles Times Book Prizes to Honor Leslie Marmon Silko and the Book Industry Charitable Foundation," 2 Mar. 2021 In the intensifying cultural war, citizens seek out political warriors that will ruthlessly champion their values. — Arkansas Online, "OPINION | LETTERS TO THE EDITOR: Some didn't conserve | Stop the cultural war | We've seen it before," 6 Mar. 2021 Abbott travels to Tyler to champion a bill that would prevent social media companies from banning users because of their political views. — Cayla Harris, San Antonio Express-News, "Gov. Abbott crisscrosses Texas to distract from power grid crisis, critics charge," 5 Mar. 2021 Haynes also serves in various leadership positions in organizations that champion social change and education. — Dallas News, "DISD partners with Paul Quinn College for new specialty school in South Dallas," 28 Jan. 2021

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'champion.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.