tournament

noun

tour·​na·​ment ˈtu̇r-nə-mənt How to pronounce tournament (audio)
also ˈtər-
or ˈtȯr-
Synonyms of tournament
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

Synonyms of tournament

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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.
The Heat is looking to advance past the four-game group stage and to the knockout rounds for the second time in the four years that the in-season tournament has existed. — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 31 Oct. 2026 The most recent tournament recorded a 61% growth in European, Asian, and South American audiences over the 2024 edition, and a 35% rise in revenue from media rights from those markets, CAF said in March. — Alexander Onukwue, semafor.com, 30 Oct. 2026 Under Yormark, the Big 12 men’s basketball tournament signed an extension to remain in Kansas City through 2031, and moved the women’s tournament from Municipal Auditorium to T-Mobile Center. — Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 30 Oct. 2026 State tournament pairings will be announced by the FHSAA after rankings are updated. — Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 29 Oct. 2026 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

Phrases Containing tournament

Browse Nearby Words

Tournai
tournament
tournasin
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Tournament.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tournament. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

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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

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about tournament

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