First Known Use: 13th century
Dictionary
tournament
noun tour·na·ment \ˈtu̇r-nə-mənt also ˈtər- or ˈtȯr-\
: a sports competition or series of contests that involves many players or teams and that usually continues for at least several days
: a contest of skill and courage between soldiers or knights in the Middle Ages
Full Definition of TOURNAMENT
1
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
2
: a series of games or contests that make up a single unit of competition (as on a professional golf tour), the championship play-offs of a league or conference, or an invitational event
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Origin of TOURNAMENT
Middle English tornement, from Anglo-French turneiement, from turneier
Related to TOURNAMENT
- Synonyms
- bout, competition, contest, event, match, matchup, meet, sweepstakes (also sweep-stake), game, tourney
Rhymes with TOURNAMENT
TOURNAMENT Defined for Kids
tournament
noun tour·na·ment \ˈtu̇r-nə-mənt\
Definition of TOURNAMENT for Kids
1
: a series of contests played for a championship <a golf tournament> <a chess tournament>
2
: a contest between knights wearing armor and fighting with blunted lances or swords
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