challenger

Academic Word List, sublist 5.

About 1.11 uses per million words.

Meaning

1. noun One who challenges.

   challengers of traditional attitudes

2. noun One who confronts or opposes; a confronter, an opposer.

   challengers of traditional attitudes

3. noun One who plays against the current champion of a contest or game in hopes of winning and becoming the new champion.

   The champion hopes to defeat his new challenger in the game to remain undefeated.

4. noun One who brings a legal claim; a claimant, a plaintiff; also, one who accuses; an accuser.
5. noun Often in the form Challenger: a match, tournament, or tour of the second-highest tier organized by the Association of Tennis Professionals.

Similar words

contender competition competitor rival disputer opponent adversary darer defiant foe

Often followed by

to and disaster expedition in was is of accident

Word family

challenge challenged challengers challenges challenging