What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
contender
Example
The boxer was a strong contender for the championship title. [contender: noun]
Example
She is one of the top contenders for the job position. [contenders: plural noun]
challenger
Example
The challenger defeated the reigning champion in the tennis match. [challenger: noun]
Example
He challenged the validity of the research findings. [challenged: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Contender is more commonly used in sports contexts, while challenger is more versatile and can be used in various contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between contender and challenger?
Both contender and challenger are neutral in terms of formality and can be used in both formal and informal contexts.
