tournament

[ too r-nuh-muh nt, tur- ]

/ ˈtʊər nə mənt, ˈtɜr- /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR tournament ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a trial of skill in some game, in which competitors play a series of contests: a chess tournament.

a meeting for contests in a variety of sports, as between teams of different nations.

History/Historical.

a contest or martial sport in which two opposing parties of mounted and armored combatants fought for a prize, with blunted weapons and in accordance with certain rules.
a meeting at an appointed time and place for the performance of knightly exercises and sports.

Nearby words

Origin of tournament

1175–1225; Middle English tornement < Old French torneiement, equivalent to torne(ier) to tourney + -ment -ment

Related formspre·tour·na·ment, noun

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

Examples from the Web for tournament

Collins said that most of her knowledge is from “here and there,” so there was no need to cram before the tournament.
Jeopardy! Champion Julia Collins’s Brain Feels Like Mush|Sujay Kumar|November 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The tournament itself is like the second season of a reality show.
Jeopardy! Champion Julia Collins’s Brain Feels Like Mush|Sujay Kumar|November 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Interestingly Germany began this tournament trying to play Barcelona style with a plethora of midfielders.
Enjoy Argentina’s Lionel Messi While You Can|Peter Pomerantsev|July 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He seemed miffed, after the game, to be adjudged the best player of the tournament.
Germany Wins, World Cup Justice Is Served|Tunku Varadarajan|July 13, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Early on in the tournament, hardcore Argentina fans spoofed the Argentina roster listing Pope Francis as a team member.
Pope Francis v. Pope Benedict: Who Will God Favor In World Cup Final?|Barbie Latza Nadeau|July 10, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Why not enter the tournament and compete for the championship?
The Automobile Girls at Newport|Laura Dent Crane
This mode of conducting knights to the tournament was not the only pleasing prelude of the sports.
The History of Chivalry, Volume I (of 2)|Charles Mills
She was no longer the dignified little queen of the tournament, but a laughing, bright-faced girl.
Saint George for England|G. A. Henty
He was hurt in his first tournament, and has not been able to fight since.
King Arthur and His Knights|Maude L. Radford
It was projected as great fun to enter the Buxton tournament in partnership, and Sabre did not see a great deal of Mabel.
If Winter Comes|A.S.M. Hutchinson

British Dictionary definitions for tournament

tournament

/ (ˈtʊənəmənt, ˈtɔː-, ˈtɜː-) /

noun

a sporting competition in which contestants play a series of games to determine an overall winner

a meeting for athletic or other sporting contestantsan archery tournament

medieval history

(originally) a martial sport or contest in which mounted combatants fought for a prize
(later) a meeting for knightly sports and exercises

Word Origin for tournament

C13: from Old French torneiement, from torneier to fight on horseback, literally: to turn, from the constant wheeling round of the combatants; see tourney

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 tournament

tournament

c.1300, "medieval martial arts contest," from Old French torneiement "contest between groups of knights on horseback" (mid-12c.), from torneier "to joust, tilt" (see tourney). Modern use, in reference to games of skill, is recorded from 1761.