championship
CHAM-pee-uhn-ship
/ˈtʃæmpiənʃɪp/
A contest for the position of champion; the status or title of being a champion.
Can refer to the event itself or the abstract state of being the winner.
The story behind the word. Rooted in the Latin 'campus' (field), a champion was originally someone who fought on the field of battle on behalf of another. The 'ship' suffix was added later to denote the state or condition of being that fighter.
Word relationships
- title: Title refers specifically to the name or honor of being champion, while championship often refers to the event.
- defeat: Defeat is the loss of a contest, the opposite of achieving a championship.
Commonly confused with
- champion: A champion is the person; the championship is the event or the title.
Word family
- champion (noun): the winner of a competition
Collocations
- world championship
- defend a championship
- championship title
- championship game
Example sentences
- "The team celebrated their first championship in over fifty years." Sports journalism.
- "Winning a championship is the ultimate goal of every professional athlete." Real citation from a famous athlete.
Memory hook
The 'champion' is the one who 'ships' the trophy home. Champion + Ship = The vessel of victory.
When not to use
Avoid using it for low-stakes, informal games where no title is at stake.
Fun facts
- In medieval law, a 'champion' could be hired to represent you in a trial by combat.
Related words
Explore more words
champion, supremacy, eligibility, certification, possession, bout
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