A champion is someone who has won a competition or contest, especially after defeating all other competitors. When a team wins the World Series or the Super Bowl, they become champions. When a chess player wins a tournament, she's the champion. The word carries a sense of triumph: champions have proven themselves the best through skill, effort, and determination.

The word also means someone who fights for or defends a cause or another person. A lawyer might champion her client's rights in court. A student might champion a proposal to add more books to the school library. Martin Luther King Jr. championed civil rights, working tirelessly to end segregation and secure equal treatment under the law. In this sense, a champion doesn't just support something casually: they actively work and may even take risks to defend what they believe is right.

When you champion an idea or person, you're their advocate and defender, speaking up when others might stay silent. A true champion shows both excellence and courage, whether competing for a trophy or standing up for what matters.