competitive

adjective

com·​pet·​i·​tive kəm-ˈpe-tə-tiv 

1

: relating to, characterized by, or based on competition

competitive sports

a competitive marketplace

2

: inclined, desiring, or suited to compete

a competitive personality

competitive interest rates

3

: depending for effectiveness on the relative concentration of two or more substances

competitive inhibition of an enzyme

competitively adverb

competitiveness noun

Examples of competitive in a Sentence

She is a very competitive player.

You need a degree to be competitive in today's job market.

Recent Examples on the Web

Live Nation’s access to Ticketmaster data gives it a lot of competitive advantages with projecting pricing, which could now include shows that are not its own. —Los Angeles Times, 10 Mar. 2026

Meet a few more moments and perhaps thoughts of a competitive playoff series. —Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 9 Mar. 2026

The state port authority has argued the project is existentially necessary to keep the Wilmington port competitive in an era of larger ships, heavier loads and deeper harbors. —Patrick Sisson, Scientific American, 9 Mar. 2026

The Competitive Landscape Technology markets are notoriously competitive. —Matt Emma, USA Today, 9 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

see competition

First Known Use

1829, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing competitive

• hyper-competitive

Rhymes for competitive

• appetitive
• repetitive
• anticompetitive
• noncompetitive
• uncompetitive

Kids Definition

competitive

adjective

com·​pet·​i·​tive kəm-ˈpet-ət-iv 

: relating to, characterized by, or based on competition

competitive sports

competitive bidding

competitively adverb

competitiveness noun

Medical Definition

competitive

adjective

com·​pet·​i·​tive kəm-ˈpet-ət-iv 

: depending for effectiveness on the relative concentration of two or more substances

competitive inhibition of an enzyme

competitive protein binding

competitively adverb