tournament
TUR-nuh-muhnt
/ˈtʊərnəmənt/
A series of contests between a number of competitors, who compete for an overall prize.
Unlike a single game, a tournament implies a structured progression, often through brackets or round-robin stages.
The story behind the word. The word comes from the Old French 'tornoiement,' referring to the way knights would 'turn' their horses during medieval combat exercises. It evolved from a dangerous training ground for war into the structured sporting events we see today.
Word relationships
- competition: Competition is a broader term for any contest; tournament is specifically a structured series of games.
- exhibition: An exhibition is a single match played for show rather than as part of a competitive structure.
Commonly confused with
- league: A league usually lasts a whole season; a tournament is typically a shorter, concentrated event.
Word family
- tournaments (noun): plural form of tournament
Collocations
- knockout tournament
- round-robin tournament
- host a tournament
- enter a tournament
Example sentences
- "The World Cup is the most-watched football tournament on the planet." Describing the scale of a global event.
- "In the Middle Ages, a tournament was a series of jousts and combat exercises." Historical context of the word.
Memory hook
Think of players 'turning' through the rounds of a bracket until only one is left. The 'turn' in tournament is the 'turn' of the bracket.
When not to use
Do not use for a single match or a casual practice session.
Fun facts
- The first recorded use of 'tournament' in English dates back to the 13th century.
Related words
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