champion

Etymology

From Middle English champioun, from Old French champion, from Medieval Latin campio (“combatant in a duel, champion”), from Frankish *kampijō (“fighter”), from Proto-Germanic *kampijô (“fighter, warrior”), from *kampijaną (“to do battle, fight”), from *kampaz (“field, battlefield, battle”), from Latin campus (“a field, a plain, a place of action”). More at kemp.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈtʃæm.pi.ən/, /ˈtʃæmp.jən/

• Audio (UK)

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Noun

champion (plural champions)

1. An ongoing winner in a game or contest.

   The defending champion is expected to defeat his challenger.

2. Someone who is chosen to represent a group of people in a contest.

   Real Madrid is eligible to play in FIFA Club World Cup as the champion of Europe.

3. Someone who fights for a cause or status.

   champion of women's suffrage

4. Someone who fights on another's behalf.

   champion of the poor

Adjective

champion (not comparable)

1. (attributive) Acting as a champion; that has defeated all one's competitors.
2. (attributive) Excellent; beyond compare.
3. (predicative, Ireland, Britain, dialect) Excellent; brilliant; superb; deserving of high praise.

   "That rollercoaster was champion," laughed Vinny.

Verb

champion (third-person singular simple present champions, present participle championing, simple past and past participle championed)

1. (usually of a cause) To promote, advocate, or act as a champion for.

References

• “champion” in John A. Simpson and Edward S. C. Weiner, editors, The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd edition, Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1989, →ISBN.
• champion in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
• champion in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911
• champion at OneLook Dictionary Search

Etymology

From Old French champion, from Medieval Latin or Late Latin campiō, campiōnem (“champion, fighter”), from Frankish *kampijō, from Proto-Germanic *kampijô, based on Latin campus (“level ground”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʃɑ̃.pjɔ̃/

• Audio

  (file)

Noun

champion m (plural champions)

1. champion

Further reading

• “champion” in le Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).