archchampion
|arch-cham-pi-on|
🇺🇸
/ˈɑrtʃˌtʃæmpjən/
🇬🇧
/ˈɑːtʃˌtʃæmpiən/
chief/top champion
Etymology
'archchampion' is a compound formed from the prefix 'arch-' (from Greek 'arkhi-' meaning 'chief, principal') and 'champion' (from Old French 'champion').
'arch-' entered English via Latin/Old French compounds (e.g. 'archbishop') meaning 'principal' or 'chief', while 'champion' comes from Old French 'champion' (from Late Latin 'campio' meaning 'combatant' or 'fighter'); the two elements were combined in modern English to form 'archchampion'.
Initially the components referred to 'chief' + 'fighter/defender', and together they came to mean 'the chief or supreme champion' in modern usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
a chief or supreme champion; the leading or most outstanding champion among competitors.
After decades of dominance, she was widely regarded as the archchampion of the sport.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/10/04 21:40