challenger
Americannoun
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challengers
plural
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a person or thing that challenges.
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Boxing. a boxer who fights a champion for his championship title.
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Radio. interrogator.
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U.S. Aerospace. none Challenger the second space shuttle to orbit and return to earth: exploded 1½ min. after launch on Jan. 28, 1986, causing the death of all seven on board.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of challenger
Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; see origin at challenge, -er 1
Explanation
Challengers don’t let things stay the way they are, they go against something already in place, like a rule or the score on the scoreboard. Or they go after the same thing you may want, like victory in a competition or even the parking spot you were waiting for. In earlier history, during the Middle Ages, a challenger was mostly a dreaded foe or someone who wanted to fight to the death with a sword. Some challengers want to challenge the truth or rightness of something, and that can be pretty serious too. In modern times, though, the word challenger often describes competitors who want to challenge each other in sports, on TV game shows, or in arguments. These challengers enjoy the challenge itself.
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Dan J. Sullivan, who has no political experience, filed as a challenger to the Republican incumbent, also named Dan Sullivan.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026
She was also holding a stack of yard signs for Cait Conley, the Democratic challenger in New York’s 17th Congressional District.
From Salon ● Nov. 1, 2026
Bass’ attacks on Raman appeared to be having a significant effect on voters’ opinions of the challenger.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026
That consensus is shrinking the room for maneuver for the 66-year-old Eisenkot, who formed his centrist party last year and is now Netanyahu’s main challenger.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026
And a new dimension entered the combat: a father’s awareness of a growing son, the son as challenger, the son as threat, the son as successor, the son as man.
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
They’d come to see Johnson appear with De La Cruz and two Republican challengers: Tano Tijerina, a much vaunted recruit running against Cuellar, and Eric Flores, the GOP hope for unseating Gonzalez.
From Slate ● Nov. 2, 2026
Former Reds defender Jamie Carragher believes Liverpool are the biggest title challengers to Arsenal,, external though, speaking on Friday, Iraola insisted it was too early to look at the table.
From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2026
His challengers are strong: Leguizamo in ‘The Odyssey,’ which has coattails, Giamatti in ‘The Debut,’ Rockwell, who won for Martin McDonagh’s ‘Three Billboards,’ and four-time nominee Norton in ‘The Invite.’
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 28, 2026
In House races, at least 47 Republican incumbents were outraised by Democratic or independent challengers, according to Punchbowl News.
From Barron's ● Oct. 19, 2026
It then turned and faced its challengers, let out a terrible roar, and disappeared with its kill.
From "The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind" by William Kamkwamba
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