competitor
Americannoun
noun
Synonym Usage
See opponent.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
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.
In April, it shut its headquarters, laid off its employees and sold its technology to a competitor.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 15, 2026
In 2015 Coke acquired a stake in Monster, a fierce competitor of Red Bull, and McDonald’s tested Monster in a handful of U.S. restaurants.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 13, 2026
While flying high for the moment, SpaceX could still face unexpected turbulence -- as evidenced by competitor Blue Origin's recent launchpad mega-explosion.
From Barron's • Jun. 12, 2026
We launched that digital storefront Feb. 20 despite internal skepticism about working with a competitor.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026
With that, everyone scattered, the Champions murmuring to their trainers about whatever competitor they deemed the biggest threat.
From "Throne of Glass" by Sarah J. Maas
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.
