tournament

American  

[toor-nuh-muhnt, tur-] / ˈtʊər nə mənt, ˈtɜr- /

noun

1. a trial of skill in some game, in which competitors play a series of contests.

   a chess tournament.

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

3. History/Historical.

   1. 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.

   2. a meeting at an appointed time and place for the performance of knightly exercises and sports.

---

tournament British  

/ ˈtɜː-, ˈtʊənəmənt, ˈtɔː- /

noun

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

2. a meeting for athletic or other sporting contestants

   an archery tournament

3. medieval history

   1. (originally) a martial sport or contest in which mounted combatants fought for a prize

   2. (later) a meeting for knightly sports and exercises

---

Other Word Forms

• pretournament noun

Etymology

Origin of tournament

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

Explanation

A tournament refers to a gathering of competitors playing a series of games. There are chess tournaments, golf tournaments, tennis tournaments, and a number of tournaments titled “Tournament of Champions.” In medieval times, large groups of knights would gather and compete in a tournament. These tournaments were composed of a number of fighting events. In the melee event, the knights were divided into two teams which would ride at each other with lances, trying to unhorse the opposing knights. There is evidence that weapons were not blunted for these tournaments. Ouch.

Example Sentences

The terms of those contracts included financial arrangements such as signing bonuses plus payment for tournament participation, people familiar with the matter told MarketWatch.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 30, 2026

Jonny Wilkinson, the steely calm at the centre of England's success at the tournament eight years later, was similarly stratospheric.

From BBC • Apr. 30, 2026

Qatar vowed to distinguish the men’s World Cup 2022 soccer tournament from the rest by making it carbon neutral.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026

Recent reports have shown hotel prices dropping as the tournament nears, which could indicate fewer people plan to travel for the games.

From Salon • Apr. 30, 2026

It was the day of the video game tournament, and he couldn’t wait!

From "Trouble at the Arcade (The Hardy Boys: Secret Files, #1)" by Franklin W. Dixon

Related Words

• contest
• event
• fight
• match
• meeting
• series
• sport
• test
• tourney