competitor

noun

com·​pet·​i·​tor kəm-ˈpe-tə-tər 

: one that competes: such as

a

: rival

a fierce competitor on the soccer field

b

: one selling or buying goods or services in the same market as another

offering lower prices than our competitors

c

: an organism that lives in competition with another

The squid population increased dramatically when food competitors were depleted by heavy overfishing.

Synonyms of competitor

• contestant
• contender
• rival
• challenger

Examples of competitor in a Sentence

We offer better rates than our competitors.

There were more than 500 competitors in the race.

Recent Examples on the Web

Anthropic’s earliest incident was in April, found July 24, after a review that began July 23, after a competitor’s disclosure on July 21. — Sandy Carter, Forbes.com, 2 Aug. 2026

The competitors involved in the first match have to set the tone for how the rest of the next few hours will go. — Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 2 Aug. 2026

Throughout the afternoon, parents pointed toward competitors and explained that Black cowboys and cowgirls have long been part of the American West. — Kansas City Star, 2 Aug. 2026

For buyers who simply want an affordable EV that drives well, charges quickly, fits into normal life, and doesn't require six figures of disposable income, the 2027 Chevrolet Bolt hits a sweet spot few competitors manage. — New Atlas, 2 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

see competition

First Known Use

1534, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

competitor

noun

com·​pet·​i·​tor kəm-ˈpet-ət-ər 

: one that competes especially in the selling of goods or services : rival