competitor

[kuhm-pet-i-ter]

noun

1. a person, team, company, etc., that competes; rival.

competitor

/ kəmˈpɛtɪtə /

noun

1. a person, group, team, firm, etc, that vies or competes; rival

Other Word Forms

• competitorship noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of competitor¹

First recorded in 1525–35; from Latin competītor “rival for an office,” equivalent to com- com- + petītor “seeker, claimant” ( petitor )

Synonym Study

See opponent.

Example Sentences

With a new gap in the airline industry, competitors such as United Airlines and Frontier Airlines have already announced additional flights and routes aimed at capitalizing on Spirit’s fallout.

From Los Angeles Times

But he is worried that Indian exporters may lose ground to African competitors who offer similar quality products at lower prices.

From BBC

“Making data available to competitors would narrow the scale gap created by Google’s exclusive distribution agreements and, in turn, the quality gap that followed,” the judge wrote.

From Los Angeles Times

Fox Corp. claims that Newsmax’s media rival has “kept out, or restricted, competitors” due to its “significant market power and leverage.”

From Salon

For example, Google must share certain data with "qualified competitors" as deemed by the court.

From BBC

Related Words

• adversary 
• challenger 
• competition 
• contestant 
• favorite 
• opponent 
• rival