Etymologically
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competitive

This is the current revision of this entry, as edited by bogdan on 15 October 2026 at 23:18. This address is a permanent link to this version.
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Pronunciation

  • IPA: UK /kəmˈpet.ɪ.tɪv/, US /kəmˈpet̬.ə.t̬ɪv/[1]

Etymology

It is formed from Latin competit-, past participle stem of competere, the source of compete,[2][3][4] and the suffix -ive.[2][3] Merriam-Webster derives it from competit- as in competitor.[5]

Earliest recorded meaning

Pertaining to or involving competition: 1826 in Etymonline,[2] 1829 in the OED, the early 19th century in SOED.[6][4] Merriam-Webster gives a first known use in the 14th century.[5]

Semantic evolution

A competitive examination, for an office or position, is an early use.[4] Of a price, comparing well with those of other traders, is from the early 20th century.[4] Of a person, eager to compete, aggressive, ambitious, is by 1977 in Etymonline.[2] Competitively and competitiveness are from 1858.[6] In biochemistry, competitive inhibition is the blocking of an enzyme by a compound that competes with its normal substrate.[7]

Timeline

  • 1826 – involving competition.[2]
  • 1858 – competitively, competitiveness.[6]
  • early 20th century – of prices.[4]
  • 1977 – eager to compete.[2]

Modern meaning

Adjective

  1. Of, involving or decided by competition.
  2. Liking competition or eager to compete.
  3. As good as or better than others, especially in price: competitive rates.
  4. (biochemistry) Of enzyme inhibition by a compound that competes with the normal substrate.

Word family

  • competitively
  • competitiveness
  • noncompetitive
  • overcompetitive
  • supercompetitive
  • uncompetitive
  • compete
  • competition
  • competitor

References

  1. ^ Jones, Daniel (2011), Cambridge English Pronouncing Dictionary, 18th ed., ed. Peter Roach, Jane Setter and John Esling, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press
  2. ^ a b c d e f Harper, Douglas. Online Etymology Dictionary, https://www.etymonline.com
  3. ^ a b Pearsall, Judy, ed. (1998), The New Oxford Dictionary of English, Oxford: Clarendon Press
  4. ^ a b c d e Shorter Oxford English Dictionary on Historical Principles (2002), 5th ed., ed. William R. Trumble and Angus Stevenson, Oxford: Oxford University Press
  5. ^ a b Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary (2024), online ed., Springfield, Mass.: Merriam-Webster
  6. ^ a b c Simpson, J. A.; Weiner, E. S. C., eds. (1989), The Oxford English Dictionary, 2nd ed., Oxford: Clarendon Press
  7. ^ The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language (1992), 3rd ed., Boston: Houghton Mifflin