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

The annual festival features multiple bock beers from local craft breweries, a sausage cooking competition, live music, from local musicians, local vendors, and the highlight of the day, multiple heats of racing goat. —Kirby Adams, The Courier-Journal, 30 July 2025

Shares of Apple have tumbled 14% this year, partly on concerns over its high exposure to tariff uncertainty and intensifying competition in smartphones and artificial intelligence sector. —Anniek Bao, CNBC, 29 July 2025

Now celebrating its 30th anniversary, Young Lions brought together nearly 460 emerging professionals this year from 67 markets worldwide for their Design, Digital, Film, Media, Marketers, PR, and Print competitions. —Indiewire Staff, IndieWire, 29 July 2025

But while rivalry and competition are easy, partnership has proved elusive. —Da Wei, Foreign Affairs, 29 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