tournament

noun

tour·​na·​ment ˈtu̇r-nə-mənt How to pronounce tournament (audio)
 also  ˈtər-,
 or  ˈtȯr-
1
: a series of games or contests that make up a single unit of competition (as on a professional golf tour), the championship playoffs of a league or conference, or an invitational event
2
a
: a knightly sport of the Middle Ages between mounted combatants armed with blunted lances or swords and divided into two parties contesting for a prize or favor bestowed by the lady of the tournament
b
: the whole series of knightly sports, jousts, and tilts occurring at one time and place

Examples of tournament in a Sentence

She's an excellent tennis player who has won many tournaments. a golf tournament in which professionals compete against amateurs
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.
In 15- to 18-year-old junior tournaments, college coaches walk the course wearing their school polos while teenagers chase scholarships. Don Norcross, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Sep. 2025 Last season’s injuries were surely one factor in the ultimate results for a Gophers team that finished 25-11-4 and hung another conference title banner, but won just two of its final six games and went one-and-done in the national tournament. Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 22 Sep. 2025 Larsson, 24, is coming off a busy and productive offseason, starring for the Heat’s summer league team and then impressing with Sweden’s national team in the EuroBasket 2025 tournament. Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2025 Locals haven’t seen a regular tour event seen since the WTA’s Silicon Valley Classic — a tournament that saw the great Billie Jean King capture its first title in 1971 — was held for the final time in 2022 on the San Jose State University Campus. Jim Harrington, Mercury News, 22 Sep. 2025 See All Example Sentences for tournament

Word History

Etymology

Middle English tornement, from Anglo-French turneiement, from turneier

First Known Use

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Time Traveler
The first known use of tournament was in the 13th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tournament.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tournament. Accessed 23 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

tournament

noun
tour·​na·​ment ˈtu̇r-nə-mənt How to pronounce tournament (audio)
 also  ˈtər-,
 or  ˈtȯr-
1
: a contest of skill and courage between knights wearing armor and fighting with blunted lances or swords
2
: a contest or series of contests played for a championship

More from Merriam-Webster on tournament

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