contender

noun

con·​tend·​er kən-ˈten-dər How to pronounce contender (audio)
: one that contends
especially : a competitor for a championship or high honor
a heavyweight title contender
the leading presidential contenders

Examples of contender in a Sentence

There are several contestants, but only two real contenders. This latest defeat means that she's no longer a contender for the world title.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This year, the race feels far less assured for far fewer contenders. EW.com, 7 July 2025 That cannot keep happening if the Packers are going to be a legitimate Super Bowl contender. Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 July 2025 But the Avs were not viewed as a Cup contender, and the Nuggets missed the playoffs the year prior. Troy Renck, Denver Post, 5 July 2025 Certainly a platform like Apple TV+ would love to break that streak, but this year’s contenders suggest that probably won’t be happening. Joe Reid, Vulture, 4 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for contender

Word History

Etymology

contend + -er entry 2

First Known Use

1547, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of contender was in 1547

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Contender.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contender. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on contender

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!