Grand Prix

[ French grahn pree ]

noun

, plural Grand Prix, Grands Prix, Grand Prixes [g, r, ah, n, , preez].

1. (sometimes lowercase) any of various major automobile races over a long, arduous course, especially an international car race held each year over the same course.

Grand Prix

/ ɡrɑ̃ pri /

noun

1. 1. any of a series of formula motor races held to determine the annual Drivers' World Championship
   2. ( as modifier )

      a Grand Prix car

2. horse racing a race for three-year-old horses run at Maisons Lafitte near Paris
3. a very important competitive event in various other sports, such as athletics, snooker, or powerboating

Word History and Origins

Origin of Grand Prix¹

1905–10; < French: grand prize

Word History and Origins

Origin of Grand Prix¹

French: great prize

Example Sentences

Standing in a luxury spectator stand on Saturday night, Abdullah Sarhan stared down at the newest track on the Formula 1 series, as the world’s top race-car drivers roared past in a blur, during this past weekend’s Grand Prix event.

From Time

Grand Prix motorcycles and motocross bikes don’t have them either.

From Outside Online

The highest level is the Grand Prix, which is practiced at the Olympics.

From The Daily Beast

Among the competitors were my father and the painter Drouais, whose remarkable picture gained him the Grand Prix.

From Project Gutenberg

I myself had just won the Grand Prix, which necessitated my going to Rome for two years.

From Project Gutenberg

On ne sait pas quel animal elles out appartenu, mais on les transporte dans le Khoragur (Kiva), o elles se vendent grand prix.

From Project Gutenberg

And Parisiennes have gradually taken to lingering after Grand Prix.

From Project Gutenberg

One expects that, but bad weather for the Grand Prix is a tragedy.

From Project Gutenberg

More About Grand Prix

What is the Grand Prix?

A Grand Prix is an automobile race over a long, hard course. Grand Prix is often used as a title for Formula One (F1) races.

In Formula One, a Grand Prix is an annual series of races to determine an F1 champion. Races take place in different countries, with individual races named after the country it takes place in, such as the Australian Grand Prix and the French Grand Prix. The Monaco Grand Prix is the most prestigious of the events.

In horse racing, a Grand Prix is an annual horse-jumping contest that takes place in Paris, France. It’s full name is Grand Prix de Paris and is limited to three-year-old horses.

When is the Grand Prix?

The Monaco Grand Prix is held in late May or early June. Other popular races include the British Grand Prix, which is held in July, the Belgian Grand Prix, held in late August or early September, and the Italian Grand Prix, held in September.

More information and context on the Grand Prix

Grand prix means “grand prize” in French, and any race can have a grand prix. In such cases, grand prix would not be capitalized unless the term is used in the title of the event. Initially, the term was reserved for each country’s largest or most prestigious F1 race, in which the winner would receive a “grand prize.” After the sport caught on around the world, the sport of Grand Prix racing would lend its name to all auto competitions raced on an open track styled like a real road.

In powerboating, a sport also organized by Formula One, only one race is referred to as the Grand Prix. It is a team race in which boats earn points by racing at high speeds over cities’ and towns’ natural rivers or lakes. In the game of snooker, a championship match that places the top 32 players in the world against each other is called the World Grand Prix. Taking inspiration from Formula One, there are also several stock car and NASCAR races that use the term Grand Prix, meaning the competitions are raced on open circuits or tracks that resemble real road conditions.

What are some terms that often get used in discussing the Grand Prix?

• race
• course
• lap

How is the Grand Prix discussed in real life?

Grand Prix most often refers to F1 races, but it can be used for a number of different races with a grand prize.

So @mark_mcgrath said the national anthem is the hardest song to sing…and I'm singing it today at the Long Beach Grand Prix. Wish me luck!

— James Maslow (@jamesmaslow) April 19, 2015

100th Grand Prix for me today. Gonna give it 💯

— Daniel Ricciardo (@danielricciardo) July 31, 2016

Michael Phelps is already back on top. Phelps wins 100-meter butterfly Friday at Charlotte Grand Prix to claim 1st victory of his comeback.

— SportsCenter (@SportsCenter) May 16, 2014

 

Try using Grand Prix!

True or False?

All Grand Prix are auto races.