Definition

1. Noun:
   • A competition to determine a champion: A tournament or series of games/contests held to decide who is the best in a particular sport or activity.
   • The title or status of being a champion: The position of having won a competition and being recognized as the best.
   • The act of vigorously supporting or defending a person or cause: The action of fighting for, backing, or advocating for someone or something.

Examples of Usage

• Noun (Competition):
  • The national basketball championship will be held next month.
  • She qualified for the world chess championship.
• Noun (Title/Status):
  • He won the championship last year and has held it ever since.
  • The team is fighting to retain its championship.
• Noun (Act of Support):
  • Her championship of environmental causes is well-known.
  • The lawyer's championship of the underdog earned him great respect.

Advanced Usage

• "To win/lose/defend a championship": Common collocations for gaining, failing to gain, or protecting a champion's title.
  • The boxer successfully defended his heavyweight championship.
• "Championship season/final/game": Used to describe the specific event or period where the title is decided.
  • The championship game was incredibly tense.

Variants and Related Words

• Champion (noun/verb): The winner of a championship (noun) or the act of supporting a cause (verb).
  • Noun: She is the reigning champion. Verb: He champions human rights.
• Championships (noun, plural): Often used to refer to a specific major competition.
  • The Wimbledon Championships are a major tennis event.

Synonyms

• Title: Often used interchangeably for the status of being a champion.
  • He holds the world title.
• Tournament: A synonym when referring to the competition itself.
  • They entered a prestigious golf tournament.
• Advocacy: A synonym for the act of supporting a cause.
  • His advocacy for reform was tireless.

Related Phrases

• World championship: The highest-level competition for a sport or activity on a global scale.
  • She is training for the world championship.
• Reigning champion: The person or team that currently holds the championship title.
  • The reigning champion was defeated in a surprise upset.

Related Idioms

• "A championship caliber team/player": Describing a team or player good enough to win a championship.
  • They played like a championship caliber team all season.

Noun

1. the act of providing approval and support
   • his vigorous backing of the conservatives got him in trouble with progressives
2. a competition at which a champion is chosen
3. the status of being a champion
   • he held the title for two years