invitational

American

[in-vi-tey-shuh-nl] / ˌɪn vɪˈteɪ ʃə nl /

adjective

restricted to participants who have been invited.

an invitational track meet.

noun

an event, as a sports competition or an art exhibit, restricted to those who have been invited to participate.

Etymology

Origin of invitational

First recorded in 1920–25; invitation + -al ¹

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.

See Examples For:

invitational

The library’s gravitas suggests the singular aura of the club’s annual invitational tournament, the Masters.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 4, 2026

Like an evangelist giving an altar call, his bid is invitational in nature.

From Salon ● Mar. 9, 2026

The 17-year-old Texan won the invitational event by 0.70 of a second over Penn State's Handal Roban to become the sixth-fastest athlete indoors in 800m history.

From Barron's ● Feb. 15, 2026

Then 34 and out of contract, Burrell's only professional rugby since has been three appearances with invitational side the Barbarians.

From BBC ● Oct. 13, 2025

How would he know I’m leaving a track invitational?

From "Legendary Frybread Drive-In" by Cynthia Leitich Smith

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023