contender

noun

con·​tend·​er kən-ˈten-dər How to pronounce contender (audio)
: one that contends
especially : a competitor for a championship or high honor
a heavyweight title contender
the leading presidential contenders

Examples of contender in a Sentence

There are several contestants, but only two real contenders. This latest defeat means that she's no longer a contender for the world title.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Both should be Final Four favorites and national title contenders. Sabreena Merchant, The Athletic, 10 Mar. 2025 And if current numbers are anything to go by, Split Fiction is shaping up to be a massive hit, and a GOTY contender in its own right. Paul Tassi, Forbes, 9 Mar. 2025 As a digital balloting closed earlier Sunday, Carney received the overwhelming majority of the 150,000 members of the Liberal Party than any other contender in the short leadership battle. Dominic Patten, Deadline, 9 Mar. 2025 This could be considered an important achievement for Byron, who also won the Daytona 500 this year, positioning himself as a strong Cup Series championship contender. Saajan Jogia, Newsweek, 9 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for contender

Word History

Etymology

contend + -er entry 2

First Known Use

1547, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of contender was in 1547

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Contender.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contender. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.

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