tournament

[toor-nuh-muhnt, tur-]

noun

1. a trial of skill in some game, in which competitors play a series of contests.

   a chess tournament.

2. a meeting for contests in a variety of sports, as between teams of different nations.

3. History/Historical.

   1. a contest or martial sport in which two opposing parties of mounted and armored combatants fought for a prize, with blunted weapons and in accordance with certain rules.

   2. a meeting at an appointed time and place for the performance of knightly exercises and sports.

tournament

/ ˈtɜː-, ˈtʊənəmənt, ˈtɔː- /

noun

1. a sporting competition in which contestants play a series of games to determine an overall winner

2. a meeting for athletic or other sporting contestants

   an archery tournament

3. medieval history

   1. (originally) a martial sport or contest in which mounted combatants fought for a prize

   2. (later) a meeting for knightly sports and exercises

Other Word Forms

• pretournament noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of tournament¹

1175–1225; Middle English tornement < Old French torneiement, equivalent to torne ( ier ) to tourney + -ment -ment

Word History and Origins

Origin of tournament¹

C13: from Old French torneiement, from torneier to fight on horseback, literally: to turn, from the constant wheeling round of the combatants; see _tourney

Example Sentences

Yet his Grand Slam performances mean he trails only Alcaraz and Sinner in the annual ATP Tour race - despite playing 11 tournaments this season.

From BBC

The Leagues Cup is a yearly tournament involving teams from the MLS and Mexico's Liga MX.

From BBC

"It wasn't the best level of the tournament for me but I kept a cool head from the beginning and the last point."

From BBC

Holly Aitchison, a playmaking fly-half, will get the chance to pull strings for the first time in the tournament after recovering from an ankle injury to take her place on the bench.

From BBC

During past three years, they’ve played in the same charity golf tournament at Pebble Beach, and Riley said he has “cherished” that time with his predecessor.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• contest 
• event 
• fight 
• match 
• meeting 
• series 
• sport 
• test 
• tourney