Word
invitational
Phoneticsin·vi·ta·tion·al, stress on the third syllable
US/ˌɪnvəˈteɪʃənəɫ/
UK/ɪnvɪtˈeɪʃənəl/
Definition
adj. describing an event where only people who are specifically asked can join. It is often used for sports or meetings where you need an official invite to participate.
adj. restricted to participants who have been specifically invited. Often used to describe competitive events or academic seminars where entry is not open to the general public.
Examples
“The school is hosting an invitational track meet.”
“Only the top ten players in the league were eligible to compete in the year-end invitational tournament.”
“The university hosted an invitational symposium, bringing together the world's leading experts in renewable energy to discuss policy shifts without the distractions of a larger, open-access conference.”
Examples
simple
“The school is hosting an invitational track meet.”
contextual
“Only the top ten players in the league were eligible to compete in the year-end invitational tournament.”
complex
“The university hosted an invitational symposium, bringing together the world's leading experts in renewable energy to discuss policy shifts without the distractions of a larger, open-access conference.”
Usage
Typically used attributively before a noun like 'tournament', 'meet', or 'conference'.
Real-World Examples
“After beginning life as a six-team invitational tournament in 1955-56 before growing to a 32-team knockout tournament in 1967, the Champions League as we know it began in 1992.” Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/invitational