plural champions
1
: someone or something (such as a team or an animal) that has won a contest or competition especially in sports
tennis champions
the heavyweight boxing champion of the world
Our team will play the defending/reigning/current champions next week.
the newly crowned national/world/Olympic champions
—often used before another nouna champion boxer/skier/swimmer
champion racehorses
2
: someone who fights or speaks publicly in support of a person, belief, cause, etc.
He was a champion for the working classes.
—often + ofShe was a lawyer and a champion of children's rights.
champions; championed; championing
: to fight or speak publicly in support of (a person, belief, cause, etc.)
She is a lawyer who champions children's rights.
Our senator championed the idea of lowering taxes.
Cite this Entry
“Champion.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/champion. Accessed 21 Jun. 2026.
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