Cool MateCompetition vs Tournament
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Competition
Top 1,000 (very common)A2noun
Tournament
Top 3,000 (common)B2noun
Most common: Competition
| Competition | Tournament | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 /["/ˌkɒmpəˈtɪʃn/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌkɑːmpəˈtɪʃn/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ˈtʊənəmənt//ˈtɔːnəmənt/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˈtʊrnəmənt/"]/ |
| Meaning | A contest where people or teams try to win something. | A competition between people or teams to see who is the best. |
| Example | The competition between the two teams was very intense. | a **golf/tennis/soccer/chess tournament** |
| Register | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 3,000 (common) |
| CEFR level | A2 | B2 |
| Part of speech | 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 | basketball, chess, golf, enter, play, play in, take place, victory, win, leader, in a/the tournament, out of a/the tournament |
| Antonyms | cooperation, collaboration | friendly match, exhibition |
| Common mistakes | Confusing 'competition' with 'competitor', Using 'compete' incorrectly as a noun, Mixing up 'competition' and '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. |
| 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. | Usually used in sports or games. Not appropriate for casual conversation unless discussing sports or competitions. |
Frequently asked questions: Competition vs Tournament
What's the difference between Competition and Tournament?
Competition: A contest where people or teams try to win something. Tournament: A competition between people or teams to see who is the best.
Which is more common: Competition and Tournament?
Competition is the most common in everyday English.
Are Competition and Tournament the same CEFR level?
Competition: A2, Tournament: B2 on the CEFR scale.
Can I use Competition and Tournament interchangeably?
Not always. Competition 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.