/ kəmˈpetətɪv; NAmE / adjective
1.
used to describe a situation in which people or organizations compete against each other :
competitive games / sports
Graduates have to fight for jobs in a highly competitive market.
2.
competitive (with sb/sth) as good as or better than others :
a shop selling clothes at competitive prices (= as low as any other shop)
We need to work harder to remain competitive with other companies.
to gain a competitive advantage over rival companies
➡ note at cheap
3.
( of a person ) trying very hard to be better than others :
You have to be highly competitive to do well in sport these days.
OPP uncompetitive
► com·peti·tive·ly adverb :
competitively priced goods
► com·peti·tive·ness noun :
the competitiveness of British industry
••
WORD ORIGIN
early 19th cent.: from Latin competit- striven for, from the verb competere , from com- together + petere aim at, seek + -ive .