Cool MateChampionship vs Competition vs League vs Series vs Tournament
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Championship
Competition
League
Series
Tournament
| Championship | Competition | League | Series | Tournament | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈtʃæmpiənʃɪp/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈtʃæmpiənʃɪp/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˌkɒmpəˈtɪʃn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌkɑːmpəˈtɪʃn/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/liːɡ/"]/🇺🇸 /["/liːɡ/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈsɪəriːz/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈsɪriːz/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈtʊənəmənt//ˈtɔːnəmənt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈtʊrnəmənt/"]/ |
| Meaning | A competition to find the best team or player in a sport. | A contest where people or teams try to win something. | A group of people or teams that come together for a common purpose, usually in sports or competition. | A group of things or events that happen one after another. | A competition between people or teams to see who is the best. |
| Example | The championship match will take place next weekend. | The competition between the two teams was very intense. | The football league has twelve teams competing this season. | I binge-watched the entire series over the weekend. | a **golf/tennis/soccer/chess tournament** |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | B2 | A2 | B2 | A2 | B2 |
| Part of speech | noun | noun | noun | noun | noun |
| Collocations | major, international, national, hold, host, compete in, take place, bout, fight, final, at a/the championship, in a/the championship, hold, capture, claim | international, national, major, win, lose, have, take place, be open to somebody, winner, entry, committee, in a/the competition, competition between, competition for, cut-throat, fierce, intense, be up against, face, go into, exist, heat up, intensify, laws, against competition, in competition with, in the face of competition, outperform, blow away, crush | basketball, cricket, football, create, form, set up, champions, leaders, championship, in a/the league, at the bottom of the league, at the top of the league, come bottom of the league, big, super, top, in a different league, in a league of your own, not in the same league (as…) | radio, television, TV, film, commission, broadcast, in a/the series, series about, series on, an episode of a series, a part of a series, entire, whole, ongoing, in a/the series, series of, the first of a/the series, the last of a/the series, the first in a series, racing, World Series, championship, lose, win, level, in the series, series with | basketball, chess, golf, enter, play, play in, take place, victory, win, leader, in a/the tournament, out of a/the tournament |
| Antonyms | disqualification, defeat | cooperation, collaboration | disband, division | singularity, individual | friendly match, exhibition |
| Common mistakes | Confusing with 'champion', which refers to the winner not the competition., Using it incorrectly to refer to a single match instead of an entire series of competitions. | Confusing 'competition' with 'competitor', Using 'compete' incorrectly as a noun, Mixing up 'competition' and 'contest' | Confused with 'leg' — instead of referring to a group, misunderstanding it as a body part., Using 'league' as a verb — it is a noun only. | Confusing with 'series' (singular) and 'series' (plural) - they are spelled the same., Using 'series' with a singular verb when it should be plural, e.g., saying 'the series are interesting'., Forgetting to clarify what kind of series is being referred to, leading to ambiguity. | Confusing with 'tournment' - the correct spelling has an 'a'., Using it as a verb - 'tournament' is a noun only., Mixing up the meaning with 'trophy' - a tournament is the event, a trophy is the prize. |
| Usage notes | Use 'championship' in contexts related to sports or contests. It is appropriate for both formal and informal settings. Avoid using it for non-competitive contexts. | Use 'competition' in contexts like sports, events, or challenges. It's appropriate in both spoken and written English. Avoid in casual or slang settings without context. | Used to refer to organized groups, especially in sports or competitions. It is appropriate in both casual and formal contexts but avoid using it in very informal settings. | Used for television shows, books, or events that are related. In formal settings, you might refer to 'a series of studies' but in casual conversation, you could just say 'the next series of that show'. | Usually used in sports or games. Not appropriate for casual conversation unless discussing sports or competitions. |
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Frequently asked questions: Championship vs Competition vs League vs Series vs Tournament
What's the difference between Championship, Competition, League, Series, and Tournament?
Championship: A competition to find the best team or player in a sport. Competition: A contest where people or teams try to win something. League: A group of people or teams that come together for a common purpose, usually in sports or competition. Series: A group of things or events that happen one after another. Tournament: A competition between people or teams to see who is the best.
Are Championship, Competition, League, Series, and Tournament the same CEFR level?
Championship: B2, Competition: A2, League: B2, Series: A2, Tournament: B2 on the CEFR scale.
What part of speech are Championship, Competition, League, Series, and Tournament?
Championship: noun, Competition: noun, League: noun, Series: noun, Tournament: noun.
Can you show an example of each?
Championship: The championship match will take place next weekend. Competition: The competition between the two teams was very intense. League: The football league has twelve teams competing this season. Series: I binge-watched the entire series over the weekend. Tournament: a **golf/tennis/soccer/chess tournament**
Can I use Championship, Competition, League, Series, and Tournament interchangeably?
Not always. Championship, Competition, League, Series, and Tournament are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.