noun · neutral
rivalry
/ˈraɪvəlri/RIV·al·ry
the ongoing competition or hostility between two people, groups, or organisations
Examples
“The rivalry between the two universities fuels some of the most exciting matches.”
“There is a long-standing rivalry between the neighbouring towns' teams.”
“Commercial rivalry can drive innovation but also lead to unethical behaviour.”
Band 8 sentence
“The historic rivalry between those two clubs has shaped local identity and attendances for generations.”
Collocations
- intense rivalry
- long-standing rivalry
- rivalry between A and B
Word family
Common mistakes
They have a rivalry team.→They have a rival team / They are rivals.
There are many rivalry between the schools.→There are many rivalries between the schools.
Say it for a higher band
5competition→6contest→7+rivalry
Synonyms
competition
contest
Easily confused
competition
“The competition attracted dozens of young athletes.”
rival
“He was her main rival for the scholarship.”
Related words
Learn this word with the rest of its set, and get reminded at the right time.
In Sport & Exercise
Learn it with its set