defending champion

noun

individual or team who won the most recent edition of a tournament or competition and is participating in the current event to retain that title

“Argentina, having won the previous tournament in 2022, were the defending champions during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.”

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Meanings

noundefending champion (plural defending champions)

plural defending champions

  1. oftenpluralhobbiesindividual or team who won the most recent edition of a tournament or competition and is participating in the current event to retain that title

    Argentina, having won the previous tournament in 2022, were the defending champions during the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

Cite this entry
APA

defending champion. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/defending%20champion

MLA

“defending champion.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/defending%20champion. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “defending champion,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/defending%20champion.

Source: defending champion on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.