defending champion
Current title holder
A defending champion is a competitor or team that currently holds a title and is attempting to retain it in the next competition.
The term appears constantly in sports coverage: The defending champion will face the upstart challenger in Saturday's final.
Someone defends a championship by competing again after winning it, whether they succeed or not.
- title holderOne holding a championship
- reigningHolding power now
- trophyAward for winning
- incumbentCurrent position holder
- victorOne who defeats opponents
crown · dynasty · back to back · repeat · throne · unseated · dethroned · comeback · legacy · reign · upset · rival · knockout · belt · streak · grand slam · dominant · clutch
- golfgolf, golf club, golf clubs, golf ball, golf balls
- competitorscompetitor, contestant, competitors, rivals, opponents
- FIFA soccerWorld Cup, World Cup qualifiers, Women's World Cup, Copa America, group stage
- game show peoplecontestant, host, winner, loser, announcer
- golf tournamenttrophy, title, winner, professional player, finals
- standingsrankings, leaderboard, league table, ladder, seeding
defending championchallenger
One competing against incumbent
contender · underdog · qualifier · pretender · dark horse
defending championnewcomer
Recent arrival somewhere
debutant · former champion · rookie · rising star · upstart
defending, champion, defend, defense, defence, defender, defensive, defensible, indefensible