Dictionary

champion en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• /ˈt͡ʃæmpjən/ (Australia)
• /ˈt͡ʃæm.pi.ən/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• (UK) audio
• /ˈt͡ʃæmp.jɪn/ (Northumbria)
• (US) audio

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *kh₂em-der. Proto-Indo-European *kh₂ém-po-s Proto-Italic *kampos Latin campusbor. Proto-West Germanic *kamp Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Germanic *-janą Proto-West Germanic *-jan Proto-West Germanic *kampijan Proto-Germanic *-jô Proto-West Germanic *-jō Frankish *kampijōbor. Medieval Latin campiō Old French champiunbor. Middle English champioun English champion From Middle English champioun, from Old French champion, from Medieval Latin campio (“combatant in a duel, champion”), from Frankish *kampijō (“fighter”), from Proto-West Germanic *kampijō (“combat soldier”), a derivative of *kampijan (“to battle, to campaign”), itself a derivative of *kamp (“battlefield, battle”), ultimately a borrowing in West-Germanic from Latin campus (“a field, a plain, a place of action”). Cognate with Old English cæmpa, cempa (“soldier, warrior, champion”), Old High German kempfeo, kempfo (“fighter, warrior, champion”), whence archaic German Kempfe (“fighter”).

Meanings

1. (attributive, not-comparable) Acting as a champion; having defeated all one's competitors.
   • a champion bodybuilder
2. (attributive, not-comparable) Excellent; beyond compare.
3. (Ireland, UK, dialectal, not-comparable, predicative) Excellent; brilliant; superb; deserving of high praise.
   • "That rollercoaster was champion," laughed Vinny.

Relateds

championship

Translations (7)

ps اتل (something very positive) · da mesterlig (something very positive) · da førsteklasses (something very positive) · nl meesterlijk (something very positive) · bg отличен (something very positive) · nl eerste klasse (something very positive) · fi mestari (something very positive)

champion en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈt͡ʃæmpjən/ (Australia)
• /ˈt͡ʃæm.pi.ən/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• (UK) audio
• /ˈt͡ʃæmp.jɪn/ (Northumbria)
• (US) audio

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *kh₂em-der. Proto-Indo-European *kh₂ém-po-s Proto-Italic *kampos Latin campusbor. Proto-West Germanic *kamp Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Germanic *-janą Proto-West Germanic *-jan Proto-West Germanic *kampijan Proto-Germanic *-jô Proto-West Germanic *-jō Frankish *kampijōbor. Medieval Latin campiō Old French champiunbor. Middle English champioun English champion From Middle English champioun, from Old French champion, from Medieval Latin campio (“combatant in a duel, champion”), from Frankish *kampijō (“fighter”), from Proto-West Germanic *kampijō (“combat soldier”), a derivative of *kampijan (“to battle, to campaign”), itself a derivative of *kamp (“battlefield, battle”), ultimately a borrowing in West-Germanic from Latin campus (“a field, a plain, a place of action”). Cognate with Old English cæmpa, cempa (“soldier, warrior, champion”), Old High German kempfeo, kempfo (“fighter, warrior, champion”), whence archaic German Kempfe (“fighter”).

Meanings

1. An ongoing winner in a game or contest.
   • The defending champion is expected to defeat his challenger.
   • Curry, a four-time NBA champion with the Warriors, played for the Wildcats for three seasons between 2006 and 2009, where he was twice named conference player of the year. 2025 March 11, Matias Grez, “Steph Curry accepts assistant general manager role at alma mater Davidson College”, in CNN:
2. Someone who is chosen to represent a group of people in a contest.
   • Barcelona is eligible to play in FIFA Club World Cup as the champion of Europe.
3. Someone who fights for a cause or status.
   • Emmeline Pankhurst was a champion of women's suffrage.
   • Specific outcomes from this policy included the appointment of a Digital Champion to drive forward the efforts to get more of the excluded to be included. 2012, Sue Watling, Jim Rogers, Social Work in a Digital Society, page 34:
4. Someone who fights on another's behalf.
   • champion of the poor
5. A particularly notable member of a plant species, such as one of great size.
   • There was a news clipping there with a photo of a magnificent American elm, which had just been named the champion for its species, the largest of its kind. 2013, Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass, 1st edition, Milkweed Editions, →ISBN, →LCCN, pages 43–44:
   • Pictured above is an actual photograph of a Regal Lily that famed all over the world. It's a champion plant—because in one season it produced a total of 89 blooms from one bulb, an amazing record among lilies. 1938 November 5, Puritan Cordage Mills, “Take a Lesson from a Lily”, in Elmer C. Hole, editor, American Lumberman, volume 65, number 3138, Chicago, page 55:
   • He [Matthew Olson] was searching for red maple trees to be tapped for syrup as part of the Stockton Maple Project when he came across the new champion tree. 2022 February 10, Christopher Doyle, “Stockton professor, students discover largest 'champion tree' in New Jersey”, in The Press of Alantic City, archived from the original on 10 Feb 2022:

Forms

Deriveds

cochampion · championess · consensus national champion · Fruit Ninja champion · champion-elect · vice-champion · champion-in-chief · championless · nonchampion · hidden champion · champion data · defending champion · world champion · championize · champion in chief · championlike · chumpion · e-champion

Descendants

seaimpín · čempions · championi · champion · czempion · Champion · чемпио́н · чемпіон · チャンピオン · ချန်ပီယံ · 챔피언 · campin · champion · טשעמפּיאָן · ჩემპიონი · tšempion · champion · čempionas

Hyponyms

championess

Synonyms

knight · paladin

Translations (217)

ko 챔피언 (someone who has been winner in a contest) · bg шампио́н (someone who has been winner in a contest) · sh zagovòrnīk (defender of a cause) · yi מײַסטערין (someone who has been winner in a contest) · hu bajnok (someone who has been winner in a contest) · uk побо́рниця (defender of a cause) · cs mistr (someone who has been winner in a contest) · sw bingwa (someone who has been winner in a contest) · ru чемпио́нка (someone who has been winner in a contest) · id pemenang (someone who has been winner in a contest) · uk захисни́ця (defender of a cause) · nds Winner (someone who has been winner in a contest) · sv vinnare (someone who has been winner in a contest) · sv förkämpe (defender of a cause) · sv mästarinna (someone who has been winner in a contest) · gl campión (someone who has been winner in a contest) · es defensor (defender of a cause) · sh пр̀ва̄к (someone who has been winner in a contest) · ru победи́тель (someone who has been winner in a contest) · be чэмпіёнка (someone who has been winner in a contest) · fa-ira پَهْلِوان (defender of a cause) · ru побо́рница (defender of a cause) · it campionessa (someone who has been winner in a contest) · de Beschützer (defender of a cause) · es valedor (defender of a cause) · sk šampión (someone who has been winner in a contest) · ps اتله (someone who has been winner in a contest) · sq kampion (someone who has been winner in a contest) · uk боре́ць (defender of a cause) · mi pākai (someone who fights on another's behalf) · ja 王者 (someone who has been winner in a contest) · sh по̀бједнӣк (someone who has been winner in a contest) · es campeón (someone who has been winner in a contest) · he אַלּוּפָה (someone who has been winner in a contest) · la propugnatrix (defender of a cause) · cmn 冠軍 /冠军 (someone who has been winner in a contest) · be барацьбі́т (defender of a cause) · sl prvak (someone who has been winner in a contest) · lv čempions (someone who has been winner in a contest) · pl obrończyni (defender of a cause) · ja チャンピオン (someone who has been winner in a contest) · de Gewinnerin (someone who has been winner in a contest) · fo meistari (someone who has been winner in a contest) · da mester (someone who has been winner in a contest) · el υπερασπιστής (defender of a cause) · es campeona (someone who has been winner in a contest) · de Siegerin (someone who has been winner in a contest) · mk поборник (defender of a cause) · la prōpugnātor (someone who fights on another's behalf) · ro campioană (someone who has been winner in a contest) · ar نَصِير (defender of a cause) · ota یكیت (defender of a cause) · nds Winnersch (someone who has been winner in a contest) · ur حِمایَت کار (defender of a cause) · th แชมเปี้ยน (someone who has been winner in a contest) · ja 擁護者 (defender of a cause) · tt җиңеп чыгучы (someone who has been winner in a contest) · lv čempione (someone who has been winner in a contest) · sh pòbednīk (someone who has been winner in a contest) · fi esitaistelija (defender of a cause) · grc πρόμαχος (someone who has been winner in a contest) · pl zwyciężca (someone who has been winner in a contest) · yi מײַסטער (someone who has been winner in a contest) · pt campeã (someone who has been winner in a contest) · ru боре́ц (defender of a cause) · sk majsterka (someone who has been winner in a contest) · tt өстен чыгучы (someone who has been winner in a contest) · eu txapeldun (someone who has been winner in a contest) · grc ὑπέρμαχος (someone who fights on another's behalf) · da champion (someone who has been winner in a contest) · sv mästare (someone who has been winner in a contest) · pl mistrzyni (someone who has been winner in a contest) · be змага́р (defender of a cause) · ga curadh (someone who has been winner in a contest) · pl mistrz (someone who has been winner in a contest) · hu bajnoknő (a female champion) · bg защи́тник (defender of a cause) · rgn as (someone who has been winner in a contest) · es paladín (defender of a cause) · nds Winnersche (someone who has been winner in a contest) · sk preborník (someone who has been winner in a contest) · tg қаҳрамон (someone who has been winner in a contest) · eo ĉampionino (someone who has been winner in a contest) · mk поборничка (defender of a cause) · eo ĉampiono (someone who has been winner in a contest) · mi papatū (someone who has been winner in a contest) · cs přeborník (someone who has been winner in a contest) · el πρωταθλητής (someone who has been winner in a contest) · crh çempion (someone who has been winner in a contest) · sk majster (someone who has been winner in a contest) · la adversarius (someone who has been winner in a contest) · nb mester (someone who has been winner in a contest) · lt čempionas (someone who has been winner in a contest) · ko 옹호자 (defender of a cause) · nds Meesterin (someone who has been winner in a contest) · et meister (someone who has been winner in a contest) · sv vinnarinna (someone who has been winner in a contest) · ky чемпион (someone who has been winner in a contest) · et tšempion (someone who has been winner in a contest) · my ချန်ပီယံ (someone who has been winner in a contest) · la propugnator (defender of a cause) · be чэмпіён (someone who has been winner in a contest) · sh pòbōrnīk (defender of a cause) · ps اتله (defender of a cause) · it campione (someone who has been winner in a contest) · ru побо́рник (defender of a cause) · tk çempion (someone who has been winner in a contest) · el υπέρμαχος (defender of a cause) · lv aizstāvis (defender of a cause) · es abanderado (defender of a cause) · ar نَصِيرَة (defender of a cause) · uk чемпіо́н (someone who has been winner in a contest) · nds Meestersch (someone who has been winner in a contest) · mk шампио́нка (someone who has been winner in a contest) · sh šampìōn (someone who has been winner in a contest) · ru победи́тельница (someone who has been winner in a contest) · ru чемпио́н (someone who has been winner in a contest) · es adalid (defender of a cause) · ast campeón (someone who has been winner in a contest) · sh pr̀vāk (someone who has been winner in a contest) · ota آلپ (defender of a cause) · km ជើងឯក (someone who has been winner in a contest) · be абаро́нца (defender of a cause) · ur چَمْپِییَن (someone who has been winner in a contest) · nds Meestersche (someone who has been winner in a contest) · pt campeão (someone who has been winner in a contest) · uk захисни́к (defender of a cause) · ro campion (someone who has been winner in a contest) · ps اتل (defender of a cause) · sh по̀беднӣк (someone who has been winner in a contest) · tr şampiyon (someone who has been winner in a contest) · mn аварга (someone who has been winner in a contest) · nl voorvechter (defender of a cause) · nl kampioen (someone who has been winner in a contest) · ur مُبارِز (defender of a cause) · de Meisterin (someone who has been winner in a contest) · la praeses (defender of a cause) · ps اتل (someone who has been winner in a contest) · fi puolestapuhuja (defender of a cause) · cy hyrwyddwr (someone who has been winner in a contest) · pl obrońca (defender of a cause) · vi nhà vô địch (someone who has been winner in a contest) · nb forkjemper (defender of a cause) · es quijote (defender of a cause) · mk шампио́н (someone who has been winner in a contest) · hy չեմպիոն (someone who has been winner in a contest) · bg шампио́нка (someone who has been winner in a contest) · ota قهرمان (defender of a cause) · sco fechter (defender of a cause) · nds Meester (someone who has been winner in a contest) · be змага́рка (defender of a cause) · uk оборо́нець (defender of a cause) · de Vorkämpfer (defender of a cause) · nds Mester (someone who has been winner in a contest) · oc campion (someone who has been winner in a contest) · id kampiun (someone who has been winner in a contest) · az çempion (someone who has been winner in a contest) · lt čempionė (someone who has been winner in a contest) · cs šampión (someone who has been winner in a contest) · uk побо́рник (defender of a cause) · id juara (someone who has been winner in a contest) · fi mestari (someone who has been winner in a contest) · mi whakaihuwaka (someone who has been winner in a contest) · uk чемпіо́нка (someone who has been winner in a contest) · ca campió (someone who has been winner in a contest) · de Gewinner (someone who has been winner in a contest) · vi quán quân (someone who has been winner in a contest) · fa-ira قَهْرَمان (someone who has been winner in a contest) · nds Meister (someone who has been winner in a contest) · bg първенка́ (someone who has been winner in a contest) · ar بَطَل (someone who has been winner in a contest) · sh шампѝо̄н (someone who has been winner in a contest) · nn meister (someone who has been winner in a contest) · gag çempion (someone who has been winner in a contest) · sl prvakinja (someone who has been winner in a contest) · nl kampioene (someone who has been winner in a contest) · ru защи́тник (defender of a cause) · ar بَطَلَة (someone who has been winner in a contest) · tt җиңүче (someone who has been winner in a contest) · sh загово̀рнӣк (defender of a cause) · fr champion (someone who has been winner in a contest) · de Meister (someone who has been winner in a contest) · ru защи́тница (defender of a cause) · sh pòbjednīk (someone who has been winner in a contest) · ka ჩემპიონი (someone who has been winner in a contest) · bg победител (someone who has been winner in a contest) · ota پهلوان (defender of a cause) · cmn 擁護者 /拥护者 (defender of a cause) · enm champioun (defender of a cause) · nds Winnerin (someone who has been winner in a contest) · cs mistryně (someone who has been winner in a contest) · de Fürsprecher (defender of a cause) · ko 우승자 (someone who has been winner in a contest) · tg чемпион (someone who has been winner in a contest) · gd gaisgeach (someone who has been winner in a contest) · mk перјаник (someone who fights on another's behalf) · nn forkjempar (defender of a cause) · ga seaimpín (someone who has been winner in a contest) · el πρωταθλήτρια (someone who has been winner in a contest) · sh по̀бо̄рнӣк (defender of a cause) · bg побо́рник (defender of a cause) · fr championne (someone who has been winner in a contest) · enm champioun (someone who fights on another's behalf) · hi चैंपियन (someone who has been winner in a contest) · la adversaria (someone who has been winner in a contest) · bg победителка (someone who has been winner in a contest) · uz chempion (someone who has been winner in a contest) · de Sieger (someone who has been winner in a contest) · th แชมป์ (someone who has been winner in a contest) · mn тэмцэгч (someone who has been winner in a contest) · bg първене́ц (someone who has been winner in a contest) · ja 優勝者 (someone who has been winner in a contest) · mi toki (someone who has been winner in a contest) · ckb پاڵەوان (someone who has been winner in a contest) · ota قوچاق (defender of a cause) · kk чемпион (someone who has been winner in a contest) · he אַלּוּף (someone who has been winner in a contest)

champion en · VERB

Pronunciation

• /ˈt͡ʃæmpjən/ (Australia)
• /ˈt͡ʃæm.pi.ən/ (General-American, Received-Pronunciation)
• (UK) audio
• /ˈt͡ʃæmp.jɪn/ (Northumbria)
• (US) audio

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *kh₂em-der. Proto-Indo-European *kh₂ém-po-s Proto-Italic *kampos Latin campusbor. Proto-West Germanic *kamp Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Germanic *-janą Proto-West Germanic *-jan Proto-West Germanic *kampijan Proto-Germanic *-jô Proto-West Germanic *-jō Frankish *kampijōbor. Medieval Latin campiō Old French champiunbor. Middle English champioun English champion From Middle English champioun, from Old French champion, from Medieval Latin campio (“combatant in a duel, champion”), from Frankish *kampijō (“fighter”), from Proto-West Germanic *kampijō (“combat soldier”), a derivative of *kampijan (“to battle, to campaign”), itself a derivative of *kamp (“battlefield, battle”), ultimately a borrowing in West-Germanic from Latin campus (“a field, a plain, a place of action”). Cognate with Old English cæmpa, cempa (“soldier, warrior, champion”), Old High German kempfeo, kempfo (“fighter, warrior, champion”), whence archaic German Kempfe (“fighter”).

Meanings

1. (transitive) To promote, advocate, or act as a champion for (a cause, etc.).
   • While obviously championing the Bluebell [Railway], Beardmore is keen for the 'big railway' to consider utilising what preserved railways can provide. 2024 April 3, Richard Foster, “Training the next generation of engineers”, in RAIL, number 1006, page 49:
2. (obsolete, transitive) To challenge.

Forms

Deriveds

championer

Translations (19)

da forsvare (to advocate) · bg защитавам (to advocate) · fr championner (to advocate) · el υπερασπίζομαι (to advocate) · de eintreten für (to advocate) · ru отста́ивать (to advocate) · es defender (to advocate) · fi puolustaa (to advocate) · es abogar por (to advocate) · sv kämpa för (to advocate) · bg подкрепям (to advocate) · el προασπίζω (to advocate) · da forfægte (to advocate) · mi kōkiri (to advocate) · fi taistella jonkun puolesta (to advocate) · ru защища́ть (to advocate) · nl voorvechten (to advocate) · mi whakatuarā (to advocate) · mi hapahapai (to advocate)