competition

[ kom-pi-tish-uhn ]

/ ˌkɒm pɪˈtɪʃ ən /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR competition ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

the act of competing; rivalry for supremacy, a prize, etc.: The competition between the two teams was bitter.

a contest for some prize, honor, or advantage: Both girls entered the competition.

the rivalry offered by a competitor: The small merchant gets powerful competition from the chain stores.

a competitor or competitors: What is your competition offering?

Sociology. rivalry between two or more persons or groups for an object desired in common, usually resulting in a victor and a loser but not necessarily involving the destruction of the latter.

Ecology. the struggle among organisms, both of the same and of different species, for food, space, and other vital requirements.

Nearby words

competence, competency, competent, competently, competing, competition, competitive, competitive binding assay, competitive exclusion, competitive exclusion principle, competitive inhibition

Origin of competition

1595–1605; < Late Latin competītiōn- (stem of competītiō), equivalent to competīt(us) (past participle of competere to meet, come together) + -iōn- -ion; sense influenced by competitor

SYNONYMS FOR competition

1 emulation.

2 struggle.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR competition ON THESAURUS.COM

Related formsnon·com·pe·ti·tion, adjectivepro·com·pe·ti·tion, adjectivesu·per·com·pe·ti·tion, noun

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

Examples from the Web for competition

“Competition is there, of course, but I think there is enough business for everyone as long as the demand is there,” he says.
Ghost Ships of the Mediterranean|Barbie Latza Nadeau|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
I am fighting that quota because I am an advocate of competition.
Propaganda, Protest, and Poisonous Vipers: The Cinema War in Korea|Rich Goldstein|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Fedaa was an artist from the start, winning first place in a competition when she was six years old.
Drawing on the Memories of Syrian Women|Masha Hamilton|November 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
“The competition is very fierce, we have very good competitors,” he told the Daily Beast.
Kissy-Face The Nation: Washington’s Power Elite Smooch Bob Schieffer|Lloyd Grove|November 18, 2014|DAILY BEAST

“The Americans were a tool, used by the Safis in the Pech to rid them of their competition in the timber trade,” Zalwar Khan said.
Heart of Darkness: Into Afghanistan’s Taliban Valley|Matt Trevithick, Daniel Seckman|November 15, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It is the principle of individualism, competition, each one for himself and against all the rest.
Socialism|John Stuart Mill
Mr. Street: I do not know why it is, but so far we haven't realized that we have any competition.
Trees, Fruits and Flowers of Minnesota, 1916|Various
Is there upon earth a power which has a right to put itself in competition with that of the Most High?
Good Sense|Paul Henri Thiry, Baron D'Holbach
Competition changed its character as consolidation increased.
The New Nation|Frederic L. Paxson
It was in competition with such exquisite books that the early printers found themselves.
The Century of Columbus|James J. Walsh

British Dictionary definitions for competition

competition

/ (ˌkɒmpɪˈtɪʃən) /

noun

the act of competing; rivalry

a contest in which a winner is selected from among two or more entrants

a series of games, sports events, etc

the opposition offered by a competitor or competitors

a competitor or competitors offering opposition

ecology the struggle between individuals of the same or different species for food, space, light, etc, when these are inadequate to supply the needs of all

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 competition

competition

c.1600, "action of competing," from Latin competitionem (nominative competitio) "agreement, rivalry," noun of action from past participle stem of competere (see compete). Meaning "a contest for something" is from 1610s. Sense of "rivalry in the marketplace" attested from 1793; that of "entity or entities with which one competes" is from 1961, especially in business.

Medicine definitions for competition

competition

[ kŏm′pĭ-tĭsh′ən ]

n.

The process by which the activity or presence of one substance interferes with or suppresses the activity of another substance with similar affinities, as of antigens.

The simultaneous demand by two or more organisms for limited environmental resources.