champion
[cham-pee-uh n]
- a person who has defeated all opponents in a competition or series of competitions, so as to hold first place: the heavyweight boxing champion.
- anything that takes first place in competition: the champion of a cattle show.
- an animal that has won a certain number of points in officially recognized shows: This dog is a champion.
- a person who fights for or defends any person or cause: a champion of the oppressed.
- a fighter or warrior.
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- to act as champion of; defend; support: to champion a cause.
- Obsolete. to defy.
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- first among all contestants or competitors.
- Informal. first-rate.
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Origin of champion
1175–1225; Middle English < Old French < Late Latin campiōn- (stem of campiō) < West Germanic *kampiōn-, equivalent to kamp- battle (< Latin campus field, battlefield) + -iōn- noun suffix; compare Old English cempa warrior, etc.
Synonyms
See more synonyms for champion on Thesaurus.com1. winner, victor. 4. defender, protector. 6. maintain, fight for, advocate.
Antonyms
1. loser.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018
Examples from the Web for championed
Contemporary Examples
While King has shepherded The Good Wife, Commander in Chief was championed by ABC executive Anne Sweeney.
She has championed women in countries where they are oppressed through Vital Voices.
By doing so, we will also achieve what Du Bois championed: practical idealism based in lifelong learning.
Other feminist sites have championed objectifying men in tit-for-tat fashion as empowering women.
And there was a time, prior to the one-two punch of Catwoman and Elektra, when superhero films were championed minority heroes.
Fear of a Minority Superhero: Marvel's Obsession with White Guys Saving the WorldMarlow Stern
August 7, 2014
Historical Examples
All the bills introduced or championed by Dr. Cannon became laws.
In England the theory was championed particularly by Richard Owen.
Form and FunctionE. S. (Edward Stuart) Russell
He was not long in this country before he championed the cause of the slave.
She has disobeyed me, flaunted me, nursed me in illness, championed me behind my back.
The CrossingWinston Churchill
Who was this young woman who championed so warmly his own son?
The Third DegreeCharles Klein and Arthur Hornblow
champion
- a person who has defeated all others in a competitiona chess champion
- (as modifier)a champion team
- a plant or animal that wins first place in a show, etc
- (as modifier)a champion marrow
- a person who defends a person or causechampion of the underprivileged
- (formerly) a warrior or knight who did battle for another, esp a king or queen, to defend their rights or honour
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- Northern English dialect first rate; excellent
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- Northern English dialect very well; excellently
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- to support; defendwe champion the cause of liberty
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Word Origin
C13: from Old French, from Late Latin campiō, from Latin campus field, battlefield
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
Word Origin and History for championed
champion
v.
"to fight for, defend, protect," 1820 (Scott) in a literal sense, from champion (n.). Figurative use by 1830. Earlier it meant "to challenge" (c.1600). Related: Championed; championing.
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champion
n.
early 13c., "doughty fighting man, valorous combatant," also (c.1300) "one who fights on behalf of another or others," from Old French champion "combatant, champion in single combat" (12c.), from Late Latin campionem (nominative campio) "gladiator, fighter, combatant in the field," from Latin campus "field (of combat);" see campus. Had been borrowed earlier by Old English as cempa. Sports sense in reference to "first-place performer in some field" is recorded from 1730.
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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper