competitor
UK: kəmˈpetɪtə | US: kəmˈpetɪtər
n. a person or organization that competes against others, especially in business or sports
n. a participant in a competition
The word "competitor" originates from Latin competitor, derived from competere ("to strive together"). The morpheme com- means "together," while pet- comes from petere ("to seek, aim"). The suffix -itor denotes an agent noun, indicating someone who performs the action. Thus, a "competitor" is literally "one who seeks (a goal) alongside others." The term evolved through Old French compétiteur before entering English, retaining its core meaning of rivalry or contest.
She trained hard to outperform her competitors in the race.
The company launched a new product to stay ahead of its competitors.
As a fierce competitor, he never gives up easily.
The tournament attracted competitors from over 30 countries.
In business, understanding your competitors' strategies is crucial.