First Known Use: 13th century
Dictionary
1champion
noun cham·pi·on \ˈcham-pē-ən\
: someone or something (such as a team or an animal) that has won a contest or competition especially in sports
: someone who fights or speaks publicly in support of a person, belief, cause, etc.
Full Definition of CHAMPION
2
: a militant advocate or defender <a champion of civil rights>
3
: one that does battle for another's rights or honor <God will raise me up a champion — Sir Walter Scott>
4
: a winner of first prize or first place in competition; also : one who shows marked superiority <a champion at selling>
See champion defined for English-language learners
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Origin of CHAMPION
Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin campion-, campio, of West Germanic origin; akin to Old English cempa warrior
Related to CHAMPION
- Synonyms
- champ, titleholder, titlist, victor, winner
- Antonyms
- adversary, antagonist, opponent
2champion
verb
: to fight or speak publicly in support of (a person, belief, cause, etc.)
Full Definition of CHAMPION
transitive verb
2
: to protect or fight for as a champion
See champion defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of CHAMPION
1605
Related to CHAMPION
- Synonyms
- advocate, back, support, endorse (also indorse), patronize, plump (for), plunk (for) or plonk (for)
Synonym Discussion of CHAMPION
support, uphold, advocate, back, champion mean to favor actively one that meets opposition. support is least explicit about the nature of the assistance given <supports waterfront development>. uphold implies extended support given to something attacked <upheld the legitimacy of the military action>. advocate stresses urging or pleading <advocated prison reform>. back suggests supporting by lending assistance to one failing or falling <refusing to back the call for sanctions>. champion suggests publicly defending one unjustly attacked or too weak to advocate his or her own cause <championed the rights of children>.
CHAMPION Defined for Kids
1champion
noun cham·pi·on \ˈcham-pē-ən\
Definition of CHAMPION for Kids
1
: a person who fights or speaks for another person or in favor of a cause <a champion of equal rights>
2
: a person accepted as better than all others in a sport or in a game of skill
3
: the winner of first place in a competition
2champion
verb
cham·pi·onedcham·pi·on·ing
Definition of CHAMPION for Kids
: to fight or speak publicly in support of <championing a cause>
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