competitor
Americannoun
noun
Related Words
See opponent.
Other Word Forms
- competitorship noun
Etymology
Origin of competitor
First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin competītor “rival for an office,” equivalent to com- com- + petītor “seeker, claimant” ( see petitor)
Explanation
Competitors are rivals or contenders for the same thing. Two boxers in a ring are competitors, and so are restaurants located on the same block. When people compete (in sports, business, or elsewhere), they're trying to achieve the same goal and are therefore considered competitors. Two teams in the same sports division are competitors. Two politicians running for the same office are competitors. And even two guys courting the same gal are considered competitors. Competitors are out to win.
Vocabulary lists containing competitor
Vocabulary of the Summer Olympics
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Chapter 11: Industry and Immigration, Lessons 1–3
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List, Group, Label pre-reading exercise
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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.
The lawsuit cites four products a furniture vendor agreed to stop providing to an undisclosed competitor due to its low prices.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 20, 2026
Without a directly comparable publicly traded competitor that matches Gold.com’s positioning, the company stands out as a high-growth retailer, commodity trader, and fintech innovator.
From Barron's • Apr. 16, 2026
OpenAI has been trying to build up its Claude Code competitor, Codex, and sees a window of opportunity in Anthropic’s quandary.
From Slate • Apr. 14, 2026
“She is a competitor who sets the tone for winning every night, and her leadership and consistency elevate everyone around her.”
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 13, 2026
“Cecilia is a great competitor and she bested me today. Win or lose, competing here today was bigger than any of my own personal ambitions.”
From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
