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

Victor Gabriel Tourinho Camargo, a Brazilian content creator known as Uvitinho, organized several tournaments in the city of Suzano. — Mitchell McCluskey, CNN Money, 24 Aug. 2026

But perhaps the timing of the auction, with its conclusion more than a month after the tournament ended, worked against the seller. — Asli Pelit, New York Times, 23 Aug. 2026

The Spain captain lifted the World Cup last month, while also grabbing the Golden Ball award for the best player of the tournament. — Jibin Joseph, PC Magazine, 23 Aug. 2026

The playoffs culminate with next week’s Tour Championship in Atlanta -- where the winner of that tournament among a surviving field of 30 golfers will be crowned FedEx Cup champ. — Greg Cote august 23, Miami Herald, 23 Aug. 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