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

• bout
• contest
• event
• game
• match
• matchup
• meet
• sweepstakes
• sweep-stake
• tournament
• tourney

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

Another directorial debut, the French drama Partir un Jour from first-timer Amélie Bonnin, will open this year’s festival, screening out of competition. —Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 10 Apr. 2025

That also plays out of competition in Cannes Premiere. —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 10 Apr. 2025

The major driver for the decline in coal use is the economic competition with cheaper and cleaner fuels, such as natural gas and renewables, Ryna Cui, research director for the Center for Global Sustainability at the University of Maryland, told ABC News. —Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 10 Apr. 2025

By contrast, trade experts also say that targeted tariffs — implemented as but one element in a larger industrial strategy — can help protect critical U.S. industries and workers from unfair foreign competition. —Alain Sherter, CBS News, 9 Apr. 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