Cool MateCompetition vs Contest vs Tournament vs Tourney
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Competition
Contest
Tournament
Tourney
| Competition | Contest | Tournament | Tourney | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˌkɒmpəˈtɪʃn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌkɑːmpəˈtɪʃn/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈkɒntest/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈkɑːntest/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈtʊənəmənt//ˈtɔːnəmənt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈtʊrnəmənt/"]/ | 🇬🇧 //ˈtɔːni//🇺🇸 //ˈtɔrni// |
| Meaning | A contest where people or teams try to win something. | A game or event where people try to win or show who is best. | A competition between people or teams to see who is the best. | A competition or series of games, especially in sports. |
| Example | The competition between the two teams was very intense. | She won the baking contest with her delicious chocolate cake. | a **golf/tennis/soccer/chess tournament** | The basketball tourney was held over the weekend. |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 3,000 (common) | Top 5,000 (fairly common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | B2 | B2 | - |
| Part of speech | noun | noun | noun | |
| Collocations | 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 | close, equal, even, have, hold, run, take place, during a/the contest, in a/the contest, out of a/the contest, a contest of skills, a contest of strength, be no contest, close, equal, even, have, hold, run, take place, during a/the contest, in a/the contest, out of a/the contest, a contest of skills, a contest of strength, be no contest | basketball, chess, golf, enter, play, play in, take place, victory, win, leader, in a/the tournament, out of a/the tournament | basketball tourney, local tourney, annual tourney |
| Antonyms | cooperation, collaboration | agreement, peace | friendly match, exhibition | casual game, friendship match |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'competition' with 'competitor', Using 'compete' incorrectly as a noun, Mixing up 'competition' and 'contest' | Confused with 'context' — make sure to differentiate between competition and situation., Using 'contests' as a verb — remember it's a noun., Saying 'participate in a contest' instead of 'take part in a contest'. | 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. | Confusing 'tourney' with 'tour' which means a trip or journey., Using 'tourney' for non-competitive events., Omitting the context of sports or games when using 'tourney'. |
| Usage notes | 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. | Use 'contest' in both formal and informal situations, such as competitions or challenges. Avoid slang contexts. | Usually used in sports or games. Not appropriate for casual conversation unless discussing sports or competitions. | Used commonly in sports contexts, especially about events like basketball, soccer, or gaming competitions. More informal than 'tournament'. |
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Frequently asked questions: Competition vs Contest vs Tournament vs Tourney
What's the difference between Competition, Contest, Tournament, and Tourney?
Competition: A contest where people or teams try to win something. Contest: A game or event where people try to win or show who is best. Tournament: A competition between people or teams to see who is the best. Tourney: A competition or series of games, especially in sports.
Which is more common: Competition, Contest, Tournament, and Tourney?
Competition is the most common in everyday English.
Can you show an example of each?
Competition: The competition between the two teams was very intense. Contest: She won the baking contest with her delicious chocolate cake. Tournament: a **golf/tennis/soccer/chess tournament** Tourney: The basketball tourney was held over the weekend.
Can I use Competition, Contest, Tournament, and Tourney interchangeably?
Not always. Competition, Contest, Tournament, and Tourney 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.