Champion — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun verb /ˈcham-pē-ən/ cham·pi·on

Meaning & Definition of Champion

Champion (noun)

  1. a winner of first prize or first place in competition; also, one who shows marked superiority
  2. a militant advocate or defender
  3. warrior, fighter

Champion (verb)

  1. to act as militant supporter of, uphold, advocate
  2. to protect or fight for as a champion
  3. challenge, defy

Champion (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. the person who comes in first in a competition

    "the champion of the national spelling bee"

    similar: champ, titleholder, titlist, victor, winner
    related: cochampion, cowinner, placer, finalist, quarterfinalist, semifinalist, medalist, prizewinner, megastar, star, superstar, world-beater
    near: loser

  2. a person who actively supports or favors a cause

    "she's the biggest champion of budget reform in the Congress"

    similar: advocate, advocator, apostle, backer, booster, espouser, exponent, expounder, friend, gospeler, herald, hierophant, high priest, paladin, promoter, proponent, protagonist, supporter, true believer, tub-thumper, white knight
    related: loyalist, partisan, stalwart, adherent, cohort, disciple, follower, interpreter, applauder, cheerleader, encourager, fellow traveler
    opposite: adversary, antagonist, opponent
    near: enemy, foe, rival, belittler, critic, faultfinder

Champion (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to promote the interests or cause of

    "he has always championed the protection of abused animals"

    similar: advocate, back, endorse, patronize, plump (for), plunk (for), support, go in for, go to bat for, hold a brief for, stand up for, stick up for
    related: adopt, embrace, espouse, abet, aid, assist, help, prop (up), second, side (with), backstop, bolster, boost, buttress, reinforce, advance, forward, further, plug, preach, talk up, bail out, deliver, rescue, save
    near: baffle, foil, frustrate, interfere, oppose, sabotage, thwart, desert, disappoint, fail, let down

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Champion

The most common words with a similar meaning to Champion:

champ, titleholder, titlist, victor, winner, advocate, advocator, apostle, backer, booster, espouser, exponent, expounder, friend, gospeler, herald, hierophant, high priest, paladin, promoter, proponent, protagonist, supporter, true believer, tub-thumper, white knight, back, endorse, patronize, plump (for), plunk (for), support, go in for, go to bat for, hold a brief for, stand up for, stick up for

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Champion

Words with the opposite meaning of Champion:

adversary, antagonist, opponent

Related Words for Champion

cochampion, cowinner, placer, finalist, quarterfinalist, semifinalist, medalist, prizewinner, megastar, star, superstar, world-beater, loyalist, partisan, stalwart, adherent, cohort, disciple, follower, interpreter, applauder, cheerleader, encourager, fellow traveler, adopt, embrace, espouse, abet, aid, assist

Near Antonyms of Champion

loser, enemy, foe, rival, belittler, critic, faultfinder, baffle, foil, frustrate, interfere, oppose, sabotage, thwart, desert, disappoint, fail, let down

Word Forms of Champion

Inflections: championed, championing, champions

Origin & Etymology of Champion

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin campion-, campio, of West Germanic origin; akin to Old English cempa warrior

First known use: 13th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Champion

Words & Phrases Containing Champion

cochampion

Frequently Asked Questions about Champion

What does "Champion" mean?

"Champion" means a winner of first prize or first place in competition; also, one who shows marked superiority. As an a noun and a verb, it is defined as: a winner of first prize or first place in competition; also, one who shows marked superiority. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Champion"?

Other words for "Champion" include champ, titleholder, titlist, victor, winner, advocate, advocator and apostle. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Champion" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Champion"?

There are 86 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Champion". Common alternatives include champ, titleholder, titlist, victor, winner, advocate, advocator, apostle, backer and booster.

What is the opposite of "Champion"?

Antonyms of "Champion" include adversary, antagonist and opponent. Near antonyms include loser, enemy, foe and rival.

How do you use "Champion" in a sentence?

Examples of "Champion" in a sentence: "the champion of the national spelling bee"; "she's the biggest champion of budget reform in the Congress"; "he has always championed the protection of abused animals".

Is "Champion" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Champion" can be used as a noun and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Champion" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C2-level word, "Champion" is typical of Cambridge C2 Proficiency (CPE), IELTS band 8.5–9.0, TOEFL iBT 114–120, PTE Academic 85–90. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Champion"?

"Champion" is pronounced /ˈcham-pē-ən/ and divided into syllables as cham·pi·on.