competitor
kuhm-PEHT-ih-t
Competitor (noun) means a person or organization competing against another for the same goal. Example: “The runner kept an eye on her closest competitor during the final lap.”
noun
1
A person or organization competing against another for the same goal.
"The runner kept an eye on her closest competitor during the final lap."
"Hitherto the river had given facilities to Kingston traders which their competitors elsewhere could not possess, but now the railway took the malt from distant towns to the London market at lower rates than the bargemasters."
— J. Spencer Gilks, Railway Development at Kingston-upon-Thames—1 (1958)
"The company slashed prices to undercut its biggest competitor."
"Only three competitors made it to the final round."
How to use competitor
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA rival — someone or something trying to beat you at the same thing.
Common pairings
main competitor
beat a competitor
rival competitor
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Word forms
- Plural
- competitors
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The runner kept an eye on her closest _____ during the final lap.
Etymology
From Latin competitor, from competere, "to strive together."
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for competitor
editor
suitor
monitor
traitor
visitor
janitor
auditor
creditor
capacitor
solicitor
inhibitor
inquisitor
See all rhymes for competitor →
Frequently asked questions
What does “competitor” mean?
The word “competitor” means a person or organization competing against another for the same goal. In plain terms, a rival — someone or something trying to beat you at the same thing.
How do you pronounce “competitor”?
“Competitor” is pronounced kuhm-PEHT-ih-t (/kəmˈpɛt.ɪ.tɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “competitor” in a sentence?
Here is “competitor” used in a sentence: “The company slashed prices to undercut its biggest competitor.”
What part of speech is “competitor”?
“Competitor” is a noun.
Where does the word “competitor” come from?
The word “competitor” comes from Latin. From Latin competitor, from competere, "to strive together.".
Is “competitor” a common word?
“Competitor” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
What is the difference between a competitor and a rival?
A competitor is anyone or any organization competing for the same goal, such as a customer, prize, or market share, and the term is common in neutral business and sports contexts. A rival implies a stronger, often personal or long-standing sense of opposition, whereas competitor is the broader, more formal word.
Is competitor used in business as well as sports?
Yes, competitor is used equally in both contexts. In business it refers to a company competing for the same customers or market, while in sports it refers to a person or team competing in the same event.
What is a common collocation with competitor?
Competitor is frequently paired with words like "main competitor," "direct competitor," "closest competitor," and "key competitor" to describe the most significant rival in a market or contest.
