Also means
rival, opponent
Usage Note
Contendiente functions as a common-gender noun: el contendiente (male) and la contendiente (female) with no change to the word itself. It is used in sporting, political, and legal contexts for someone competing against another party. The related verb is contender (to contend, to compete), and contienda is the noun for the contest or struggle itself.
Examples
"Los dos contendientes se saludaron antes del debate."
Natural Translation
The two contenders greeted each other before the debate.

Free starter pack
Building your Spanish vocabulary?
Get the 100 most common Spanish words as a free PDF — one email, no spam.
Related Words
Explore Spanish by topic
SpanishNow
6 min read