champion

[ cham-pee-uhn ]

/ ˈtʃæm pi ən /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR champion ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

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.

verb (used with object)

to act as champion of; defend; support: to champion a cause.

Obsolete. to defy.

adjective

first among all contestants or competitors.

Informal. first-rate.

Nearby words

champaigne, champers, champerty, champignon, champigny-sur-marne, champion, champion of england, championship, champlain, champlain, lake, champlain, samuel de

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 FOR champion

1 winner, victor.

4 defender, protector.

6 maintain, fight for, advocate.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR champion ON THESAURUS.COM

ANTONYMS FOR champion

1 loser.

SEE MORE ANTONYMS FOR champion ON THESAURUS.COM

Related forms

cham·pi·on·less, adjectivecham·pi·on·like, adjectivenon·cham·pi·on, nounpre·cham·pi·oned, adjective

un·cham·pi·oned, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for championed

While King has shepherded The Good Wife, Commander in Chief was championed by ABC executive Anne Sweeney.
Will There Ever Be a ‘Good Wife’ Effect on Politics?|Keli Goff|October 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
She has championed women in countries where they are oppressed through Vital Voices.
Women in the World Texas Sneak Peek|Cynthia Allum|October 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
By doing so, we will also achieve what Du Bois championed: practical idealism based in lifelong learning.
College Must Be More Than Just a Classy Trade School|Michael S. Roth|August 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Other feminist sites have championed objectifying men in tit-for-tat fashion as empowering women.
Full Frontal Disney: Feminism's Nudity Double Standard|Emily Shire|August 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST

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 World|Marlow Stern|August 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
And if we win, as win we must, we shall remember how Edgar Atheling has championed the 39 cause.
I, Thou, and the Other One|Amelia Edith Huddleston Barr
Who was this young woman who championed so warmly his own son?
The Third Degree|Charles Klein and Arthur Hornblow
In Dr. Cathcart "civilization" championed his forces against an attack singular enough.
The Wendigo|Algernon Blackwood
So this Nate never wrote, and his sister loved and championed him!
Lin McLean|Owen Wister
Now that the law had come there were many who discovered that their sympathies had always been with the men who had championed it.
The Coming of the Law|Charles Alden Seltzer

British Dictionary definitions for championed

champion

/ (ˈtʃæmpɪən) /

noun

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

adjective

Northern English dialect first rate; excellent

adverb

Northern English dialect very well; excellently

verb (tr)

to support; defendwe champion the cause of liberty

Word Origin for champion

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 (1 of 2)

champion

"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.

Word Origin and History for championed (1 of 2)

champion

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.

champion

noun

verb (used with object)

adjective

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RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Origin of champion

Examples from the Web for championed

British Dictionary definitions for championed

champion

noun

adjective

adverb

verb (tr)

Word Origin for champion

Word Origin and History for championed (1 of 2)

champion

Word Origin and History for championed (1 of 2)

champion