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Definition of winner

winner

/ˈwɪn.ər/
win · ner
Plural:winners
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winner Lexical Profile

winner Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A person, team, or entity that wins a contest, race, election, or any other competition.

Example

"The winner of the spelling bee was awarded a college scholarship and a shiny trophy."

2

Something that is highly successful, profitable, or exceptionally good.

Example

"The company's new line of affordable electronics has proven to be an absolute winner in the market."

3

A shot or play in a sport, especially tennis, that is unreturnable and successfully ends a point.

Example

"She hit a stunning crosscourt forehand winner to close out the final set."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for winner
Antonyms
View all antonyms for winner

• Rhymes for winner

• Nearby Words

winless
winnability
winnable
winner
winnetka
winning
winningly

Word Origin & Etymology

Derived from the Middle English word 'winnere', formed by combining 'winnen' (to win, strive) with the agent suffix '-er'. Its ultimate roots lie in the Old English 'winnan' meaning to labor, toil, or struggle.

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

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