tournament

noun

tour·​na·​ment ˈtu̇r-nə-mənt 

also ˈtər-

or ˈtȯr-

1

: a series of games or contests that make up a single unit of competition (as on a professional golf tour), the championship playoffs of a league or conference, or an invitational event

2

a

: a knightly sport of the Middle Ages between mounted combatants armed with blunted lances or swords and divided into two parties contesting for a prize or favor bestowed by the lady of the tournament

b

: the whole series of knightly sports, jousts, and tilts occurring at one time and place

Synonyms of tournament

• competition
• event
• game
• championship
• match
• contest
• tourney

Examples of tournament in a Sentence

She's an excellent tennis player who has won many tournaments.

a golf tournament in which professionals compete against amateurs

Recent Examples on the Web

The tournament starts Sunday at Melbourne Park. —Arkansas Online, 16 Jan. 2026

With 104 matches across 16 host cities, the tournament is bigger than ever and coming to the United States for the first time in decades. —Irene Wright, USA Today, 15 Jan. 2026

Celebrating the British women’s team’s Rugby World Cup win last year, the Princess of Wales hosted the players in her role as patron of the Rugby Football Union, having followed their progress closely throughout the tournament. —Olivia Allen, Vogue, 15 Jan. 2026

With the students back from holiday break, Moody was rocking and the Horns looked every bit like a tournament team. —Cedric Golden, Austin American Statesman, 15 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English tornement, from Anglo-French turneiement, from turneier

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Phrases Containing tournament

• pre-tournament

Kids Definition

tournament

noun

tour·​na·​ment ˈtu̇r-nə-mənt 

also ˈtər-

or ˈtȯr-

1

: a contest of skill and courage between knights wearing armor and fighting with blunted lances or swords

2

: a contest or series of contests played for a championship