ENGLISH
REFERENCE

champion

n. · v. · adj.
US //ˈtʃæmpiən// UK //tʃˈæmpiən// cham·pi·on
  1. 1 winner (n.)
    A2 Elementary Sport

    a person or team that wins a competition or contest.

    the winner of a competition, tournament, or other sporting contest.

    Example

    The world champion held the trophy high while the crowd cheered.

    Example

    After a grueling final match, she was crowned the undisputed champion of the international chess tournament.
  2. 2 supporter of a cause (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

    someone who speaks or fights in support of an idea or a group of people.

    a person who vigorously supports or defends a particular cause, belief, or person.

    Example

    He was a lifelong champion of poor people's rights in his city.

    Example

    The senator became a leading champion of environmental reform, pushing for stricter regulations on industrial waste disposal.
Show 3 more sensesShow fewer
  1. 3 notable plant (n.)
    C2 Proficiency Technical Botany

    a plant or tree that is much larger or more impressive than others of its kind.

    a specimen of a plant species notable for its exceptional size or age.

    Example

    This oak tree is a local champion because of its massive trunk.

    Example

    Arborists identified the ancient sequoia as a state champion based on its record-breaking height and girth.
  2. 4 to support an idea (v.)
    C1 Advanced Formal

    to publicly support or defend a set of beliefs or a plan.

    to vigorously support or defend a cause or principle. Transitive; requires a direct object.

    Example

    The local newspaper decided to champion the campaign for a new park.

    Example

    The organization continues to champion the rights of indigenous communities whose lands are threatened by commercial development.
  3. 5 excellent (adj.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate British English Dialect Informal

    very good or excellent.

    denoting excellence or high quality. Often used as a predicative adjective in specific regional dialects.

    Example

    That was a champion meal; I enjoyed every bit of it.

    Example

    He did a champion job on the repairs, and the machine has been running perfectly ever since.
Origin

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *kh₂em-der. Proto-Indo-European *kh₂ém-po-s Proto-Italic *kampos Latin campusbor. Frankish *kamp Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Germanic *-janą Frankish *-jan Frankish *kampijan Proto-Germanic *-jô Frankish *-jō Frankish *kampijōbor. Medieval Latin campiō Old French champiunbor. Middle English champioun English champion From Middle English champioun, from Old French champion, from Medieval Latin campio (“combatant in a duel, champion”), from Frankish kampijō (“fighter”), from Proto-West Germanic kampijō (“combat soldier”), a derivative of kampijan (“to battle, to campaign”), itself a derivative of kamp (“battlefield, battle”), ultimately a borrowing in West-Germanic from Latin campus (“a field, a plain, a place of action”). By surface analysis champ + -ion. Cognate with Old English cæmpa, cempa (“soldier, warrior, champion”), Old High German kempfeo, kempfo (“fighter, warrior, champion”), whence archaic German Kempfe (“fighter”).

© 2026 English Reference