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Synonyms

championship

American  
[cham-pee-uhn-ship] / ˈtʃæm pi ənˌʃɪp /

noun

championships plural
  1. the distinction or condition of being a champion.

    to win a championship.

  2. advocacy or defense.

    championship of the underdog.

  3. championships, a series of competitions or contests to determine a champion.

    the tennis championships.


championship British  
/ ˈtʃæmpɪənˌʃɪp /

noun

  1. (sometimes plural) any of various contests held to determine a champion

  2. the title or status of being a champion

  3. support for or defence of a cause, person, etc

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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Nouns

Etymology

Origin of championship

First recorded in 1815–25; champion + -ship

Explanation

A championship is a contest where a champion — an ultimate winner — is decided. Champions are the top winners: only one football or baseball team earns the title of champion in a year. The championship is the contest that decides who will be champion. The Super Bowl is a championship. And so are the World Series, the Stanley Cup Finals, and the NBA Finals. Although championship is most often used in sports, you will also hear about the spelling bee championships or chess championships. When you win a championship, you're number one in your field.

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Vocabulary lists containing championship

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.

Fernandes has spent the past two seasons in the Premier League with Southampton and West Ham, although each club were relegated to the Championship.

From BBC • Jul. 2, 2026

The EFL's PSR restrict Championship clubs to losses of £39m over three years.

From BBC • Jul. 1, 2026

Gill played for the youth teams of Paraguayan clubs Club 13 de Junio and CS San Lorenzo, and was named in Paraguay's squad for the South American Under-20 Championship in early 2019.

From BBC • Jun. 30, 2026

The Mets made an unexpected run to the National League Championship Series in 2024 and then flexed their economic might by giving Soto a record-setting $765 million free-agent contract a couple of months later.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 26, 2026

Just two weeks after that July 4 weekend tournament, the 1956 United States Open Championship was going to be held in Oklahoma City.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

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