challenger

challenger — noun

1. a person, team, or organization that enters a contest to try to take the winning

1.名詞B2
釋義

a person, team, or organization that enters a contest to try to take the winning position from the individual or group that currently holds it.

例句

Aiko trained for six months before facing the champion as the top challenger.

collocation: top challenger / main challenger

In the final round, the challenger defeated the reigning champion by a single point.

collocation: challenger defeats / beats champion

同義詞
  • contender

    emphasises having a realistic chance of winning; weaker on the 'facing a champion' aspect

  • competitor

    broader term for any participant in a contest; does not imply an existing title-holder

  • rival

    focuses on an ongoing competitive relationship between two parties

  • opponent

    neutral term for someone you face in a contest or debate

反義詞
  • champion

    the current title-holder whom a challenger tries to defeat

  • incumbent

    the person currently holding a political office or position

用法筆記

Frequently paired with adjectives like 'main', 'leading', 'serious', 'strongest'. Typically followed by 'to' + [person/position] or 'for' + [title/prize]. The word implies that a current title-holder or incumbent exists — it is not a synonym for a general competitor.

常見錯誤

❌He is a challenger in the swimming race.
✅He is a competitor in the swimming race.
💡'challenger' implies someone specific is trying to take a title from an existing champion or holder; 'competitor' is the correct word for any participant in a contest without a reigning title-holder.