ENGLISH
REFERENCE

contest

n. countable
B2 Upper Intermediate Oxford US //ˈkɑntɛst// con·test General-service

n. a competition or game where people try to win something. It can also be a formal disagreement about a decision or a legal result.

n. an event in which people compete for supremacy or a prize; in legal contexts, a formal challenge to the validity of a claim or result.


SIMPLE

She won first prize in the photography contest.

CONTEXTUAL

The local election turned into a close contest between the two main political parties.

COMPLEX

The legal team filed a formal contest against the will, arguing that the deceased was not of sound mind when the document was signed.

Synonyms
Origin

PIE word *tréyes From French contester, from Old French, from Latin contestor (“to call to witness”).

Usage

Often used with the verbs 'enter', 'win', or 'lose'; in legal contexts, it frequently pairs with 'file' or 'mount'.

© 2026 English Reference