rivalry

[rahy-vuhl-ree]

noun

plural

rivalries 

1. the action, position, or relation of a rival or rivals; competition.

   rivalry between Yale and Harvard.

   Synonyms: jealousy, antagonism, opposition

2. an instance of this.

rivalry

/ ˈraɪvəlrɪ /

noun

1. the act of rivalling; competition

2. the state of being a rival or rivals

Other Word Forms

• rivalrous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of rivalry¹

First recorded in 1590–1600; rival + -ry

Example Sentences

This will be the resumption of a rivalry for the starting quarterbacks.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Chips are at the core of the technology rivalry between the U.S. and China.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The rivalry with Gates and Microsoft has been more than just about stock prices and publicity, though, or even beyond personal—Gates the nerd, Ellison the renegade.

Read more on Barron's

The setting aside of football rivalries showed what Hatton meant to the whole of Manchester.

Read more on BBC

Cam Schlittler grew up dreaming about one day etching his name into the storied history of baseball’s most famous rivalry.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• antagonism 
• clash 
• conflict 
• contest 
• duel 
• encounter 
• event 
• fight 
• jealousy 
• matchup 
• race 
• strife 
• struggle 
• tug-of-war