champion

1 of 2

noun

cham·​pi·​on ˈcham-pē-ən How to pronounce champion (audio)
1
: a winner of first prize or first place in competition
a tennis champion
also : one who shows marked superiority
a champion at selling
2
: a militant advocate or defender
a champion of civil rights
3
: warrior, fighter
a champion of his king
4
: one that does battle for another's rights or honor
God will raise me up a championSir Walter Scott

champion

2 of 2

verb

championed; championing; champions

transitive verb

1
: to act as militant supporter of : uphold, advocate
always champions the cause of the underdog
2
: to protect or fight for as a champion
championed the ladies chivalrously in the tilts
3
archaic : challenge, defy
Choose the Right Synonym for 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

Examples of champion in a Sentence

Noun the heavyweight boxing champion of the world Our team will play the defending champions next week. the newly crowned national champions He was a champion for the working classes. Verb She is a lawyer who champions children's rights. Our senator championed the idea of lowering taxes.
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Boeing is a national champion in the production of large commercial aircraft, a major player in the country’s defense supply base and an economic pillar as its largest exporter. Jerrold Lundquist, Forbes, 25 Oct. 2024 Ample use of his No. 5 auction paddle paid off: Blanco was named the champion with a winning $25,000 bid for the vacation stay. Kimi Robinson, USA TODAY, 25 Oct. 2024
Verb
Beyoncé made a marquee appearance at Kamala Harris‘ rally for reproductive rights at Houston’s Shell Energy Stadium on Friday, taking the stage to champion Harris alongside her fellow Destiny’s Child member Kelly Rowland. Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 26 Oct. 2024 Winslet championed the project for over a decade and also produced it. Toria Sheffield, People.com, 25 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for champion 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'champion.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Anglo-French, from Medieval Latin campion-, campio, of West Germanic origin; akin to Old English cempa warrior

First Known Use

Noun

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Verb

circa 1616, in the meaning defined at sense 3

Time Traveler
The first known use of champion was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near champion

Cite this Entry

“Champion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/champion. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

champion

1 of 2 noun
cham·​pi·​on ˈcham-pē-ən How to pronounce champion (audio)
1
: a person who fights or speaks for another person or in favor of a cause
2
: the winner of first prize or first place in a competition
also : one showing superior skill or ability

champion

2 of 2 verb
: to protect or fight for as a champion

More from Merriam-Webster on champion

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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