champion

A person or team that has won a competition, especially the most important one in a sport.

• She is the new champion.
• The world champion won another race.
• Who beat the defending champion in the final?

How to use it: champion of something (She became champion of the tournament.)

Similar words: winner, titleholder

Opposites: loser

Common phrases: world champion, national champion, defending champion

Someone who strongly supports and works for a cause or another person’s rights.

• She is a champion of free speech.
• The lawyer became a champion for poor families.
• We need more champions of public education.

How to use it: champion of something (He was a champion of equal rights.); champion for someone (She became a champion for unpaid carers.)

Similar words: supporter, advocate, defender

Opposites: opponent

Common phrases: champion of freedom, champion of something, champion for someone

A person chosen to compete or fight on behalf of a group.

• Each village chose a champion.
• Our champion will fight on our behalf.
• The king sent his champion to face the challenger.

How to use it: champion for someone/something (They chose him as champion for their village.)

Similar words: representative

Common phrases: choose a champion, village champion, champion for someone

Having won a competition by beating all the other competitors.

• She is a champion swimmer.
• The champion team returned home yesterday.
• He trained with a former champion boxer.

Similar words: winning, title-winning

Common phrases: champion boxer, champion team, champion swimmer

Better than all others of the same kind.

• That is a champion rose.
• The farmer proudly showed us his champion bull.
• Her champion vegetables attracted crowds at the fair.

Similar words: outstanding, first-rate, excellent

Opposites: inferior

Common phrases: champion rose, champion bull, champion grower

To strongly support a cause, idea, or person and work to help them succeed.

• She champions workers' rights.
• He championed the plan despite strong opposition.
• Who will champion this cause in parliament?

Similar words: support, promote, advocate, defend

Opposites: oppose

Common phrases: champion a cause, champion equal rights, champion someone's ideas