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competitor
/kəmˈpɛtɪtər/
rival in business or competition
Our company faces stiff competition from foreign competitors.
Our rivals in business are challenging to beat.
Business
formal
A person or organization that competes against others, especially in business.
The two competitors agreed to a fair pricing strategy.
The rivals in the market decided on reasonable prices.
She outperformed all her competitors in the race.
She did better than all her rivals in the competition.
Often used in contexts involving rivalry, such as sports, business, or politics.
technical
An organism that vies for the same resources as another.
In ecology, competitors may share the same habitat.
Different species that use the same resources are called competitors.
Used in biology to describe organisms competing for food, space, or mates.
Collocations
main competitorthe primary rival in a market or fielddirect competitora rival offering similar products or servicescompete against competitorsto rival others in a contest or market
Synonyms
Antonyms
Pro Tip
Avoid overusing 'competitor'
Use 'rival' for a more general term or 'opponent' in competitive settings like sports. 'Competitor' is best suited for business contexts.
Gold Rule
Use 'competitor' for rivalry in structured contexts
Reserve 'competitor' for scenarios where there is a clear contest or market competition, such as business, sports, or academic contests.
Word Origin
From Latin *competitor*, from *competere* meaning 'to strive together', from *com-* (together) + *petere* (to seek). The word entered English in the 16th century, originally in legal contexts, later expanding to general rivalry.
Usage Notes
Commonly used in business and sports contexts. Avoid using it to describe someone who is merely participating without rivalry (e.g., 'participant' is more appropriate).
Word Breakdown
compet-
to strive or seek
root-itor
a person who performs an action
suffixEnglish Dictionary