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Definition of rivalry

rivalry

/ˈraɪ.vəl.ri/
ri · val · ry
Plural:rivalries
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rivalry Lexical Profile

rivalry Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

Competition for the same objective or for superiority in the same field.

Example

"The fierce rivalry between the two universities always makes their annual basketball game exciting to watch."

Synonyms
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Antonyms
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• Rhymes for rivalry

• Nearby Words

ritz
ritzy
rival
rivalry
river
river birch
river cooter

Word Origin & Etymology

Formed in the late 16th century from 'rival' plus the suffix '-ry'. The root 'rival' comes from Latin 'rivalis', originally meaning a person who uses the same brook or stream as another (from 'rivus', meaning stream), as neighbors often competed over shared water rights.

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Rivalry. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/rivalry
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