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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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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.

Similar technology was used at the 2022 World Cup and 2024 European Championship.

From BBC • Jul. 3, 2026

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

From BBC • Jul. 1, 2026

There must be a reason for that - perhaps the pressure of keeping their team in it before the final round of kicks - because the same is true of European Championship shootouts.

From BBC • Jun. 28, 2026

Tandy's side needed this test before the Nations Championship and the Barbarians squad provided that challenge with the squad boasting 19 internationals from 11 different countries.

From BBC • Jun. 27, 2026

She won the United States Feminine Aerobatic Championship three years in a row.

From "Women in Space" by Karen Bush Gibson

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