champion

Universal Words noun, verb noun 1 a person, team, etc. that has won a competition, especially in a sport: the world basketball champions * a champion jockey / boxer / swimmer * the reigning champion (= the person who is champion now) 2 ~ (of sth) a person who fights for, or speaks in support of, a group of people or a belief: She was a champion of the poor all her life. verb [VN] to fight for or speak in support of a group of people or a belief: He has always championed the cause of gay rights.