Competitive

Definition

Competitive is an adjective. It describes a situation or person involved in competition, especially in striving to be more successful than others. It can refer to environments, activities, or individuals characterized by a desire to achieve higher performance.

Parts of Speech

• Adjective

Pronunciation

American English

• IPA Pronunciation: /kəmˈpɛtɪtɪv/
• Respelling: kuhm-PET-uh-tiv

British English

• IPA Pronunciation: /kəmˈpɛtɪtɪv/
• Respelling: kuhm-PET-ih-tiv

Etymology

The word "competitive" originates from the Latin "competere," meaning "to strive together" or "to contend." The term entered English through Middle French as "compétitif," and was adopted into English in the 17th century to describe the nature of competition and rivalry.

Derivatives

• Competitiveness (noun)
• Competitor (noun)
• Compete (verb)
• Noncompetitive (adjective)
• Hypercompetitive (adjective)

Synonyms

• Rivalrous
• Ambitious
• Driven

Antonyms

• Noncompetitive
• Unambitious
• Indifferent

Usage

The term "competitive" is commonly used in contexts involving sports, business, and personal goals, where performance and achievement are measured against others. For example, "The job market is highly competitive," or "She has a competitive nature and always strives to win."

Related Terms

• Competition: The act of competing or striving for a goal.
• Rivalry: A state of competition or opposition between people or groups.
• Ambition: A strong desire to achieve success, often accompanied by determination.

Detailed Definitions

Adjective

• Relating to or involving competition: Describes environments, activities, or relationships characterized by a desire to outperform others.
  • Example: "The school has a competitive sports program."
• Having a strong desire to succeed in competing with others: Refers to individuals or groups with a drive to win or achieve high performance.
  • Example: "He is very competitive and strives to be the best in everything he does."
• Offering products or services at a lower price or better value than others: In business contexts, it describes pricing strategies intended to attract customers by being more affordable or of higher quality.
  • Example: "The company’s competitive pricing helped increase its market share."