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Dictionary / challenge

challenge

/ˈt͡ʃæl.ɪnd͡ʒ/ /ˈt͡ʃæl.ənd͡ʒ/
  • noun
  • verb
  • from Old French

An antagonization or instigation intended to convince a person to perform an action they otherwise would not.

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1 All current definitions

Every sense of “challenge” in current use, as recorded by Wiktionary. Older and obsolete senses are kept separately.

noun

  1. A confrontation; a dare.An antagonization or instigation intended to convince a person to perform an action they otherwise would not.

    Congratulations on managing to use the phrase “preponderant criterion” in a chart (“On your marks”, November 9th). Was this the work of a kakorrhaphiophobic journalist set a challenge by his colleagues, or simply an example of glossolalia?2013 November 30, Paul Davis, “Letters: Say it as simply as possible”, in The Economist, volume 409, number 8864:

  2. A confrontation; a dare.A bid to overcome something.

    a challenge to the king's authority

  3. A confrontation; a dare.An attempt to take possession; a tackle.

    Argentine midfielder Jonas Gutierrez added a superb second when he surged past four challenges to fire in low.2011 October 1, Saj Chowdhury, “Wolverhampton 1-2 Newcastle”, in BBC Sport:

  4. A confrontation; a dare.A summons to fight a duel; also, the letter or message conveying the summons.
  5. A confrontation; a dare.The act of a sentry in halting a person and demanding the countersign, or (by extension) the action of a computer system demanding a password, etc.
  6. A confrontation; a dare.An attempt to have a work of literature restricted or removed from a public library or school curriculum.
  7. A difficult task, especially one that the person making the attempt finds more enjoyable because of that difficulty.
  8. A procedure or action.The act of appealing a ruling or decision of a court of administrative agency.
  9. A procedure or action.rareA judge's interest in the result of a case, constituting grounds for them to not be allowed to sit the case (e.g., a conflict of interest).

    Consanguinity in direct line is a challenge for a judge when he or she is sitting cases.

  10. A procedure or action.The act of seeking to remove a judge, arbitrator, or other judicial or semi-judicial figure for reasons of alleged bias or incapacity.

    We're still waiting to hear how the court rules on our challenge of the arbitrator based on conflict of interest.

  11. A procedure or action.USAn act of seeking to have a certain person be declared not legally qualified to vote, made when the person offers their ballot.
  12. The opening and crying of hounds upon first finding the scent of their game.
Wiktionary: “challenge” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

verb

  1. transitiveTo invite (someone) to take part in a competition.

    We challenged the boys next door to a game of football.

  2. transitiveTo dare (someone).
  3. transitiveTo dispute (something); to contest.

    to challenge the accuracy of a statement or of a quotation

  4. To call something into question or dispute.

    New information challenged old hypotheses.

  5. transitiveTo make a formal objection to a juror.
  6. transitiveTo be difficult or challenging for.

    Before moving onto the content of Hobson-Jobson, an explication of the publication history is necessary since this has clearly challenged many commentators.2018, James Lambert, “Setting the Record Straight: An In-depth Examination of Hobson-Jobson”, in International Journal of Lexicography, volume 31, number 4, →DOI, page 487:

  7. transitiveTo question or demand the countersign from (one who attempts to pass the lines).

    The sentinel challenged us with "Who goes there?"

  8. UStransitiveTo object to the reception of the vote of, e.g. on the ground that the person is not qualified as a voter.
  9. CanadaUStransitiveTo take (a final exam) in order to get credit for a course without taking it.

    I mean if you go in and want to challenge an exam it cost you half of your course money. If you don't pass the exam, that money is credited toward taking the course. What have you got to lose to challenge an exam, or do a competency exam?1996, Senate Legislative Record ... Legislature State of Maine:

Older & obsolete senses (2)
  1. obsoletetransitiveTo claim as due; to demand as a right.
  2. obsoletetransitiveTo censure; to blame.
Wiktionary: “challenge” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0
Cross-check: WordNet senses (9)
  1. nouna demanding or stimulating situation
  2. nouna call to engage in a contest or fight
  3. nounquestioning a statement and demanding an explanation
  4. nouna formal objection to the selection of a particular person as a juror
  5. nouna demand by a sentry for a password or identification
  6. verbtake exception to — also: dispute, gainsay
  7. verbissue a challenge to
  8. verbask for identification
  9. verbraise a formal objection in a court of law — also: take exception
Princeton WordNet 3.0 — WordNet License

Synonyms: becall, call out

Wiktionary: “challenge” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

2 History of the word

The etymology, the path the word travelled, and the words built from it.

The word’s journey, newest to oldest:

  1. English (today)challenge
  2. Middle Englishchalenge
  3. Old Frenchchalenge
  4. Latincalumnia “a false accusation, calumny”

From Middle English chalenge, variant with palatalization of Middle English kalange (“an accusation, claim”), from Old French chalenge, chalonge, palatalized Central French variants of Old Northern French calenge, calonge (see Continental Norman calengier), from Latin calumnia (“a false accusation, calumny”).

Cognate with Old English hōl (“calumny”). Doublet of calumny.

Wiktionary: “challenge” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Derivatives — words built from “challenge”

challengeablechallengedchallengeechallengefulchallengelesschallengerchallengestchallengethcounterchallengedechallengeimmunochallengemegachallengemischallengemultichallengemultichallengernonchallengeoverchallengepostchallengeprechallengerechallengesubchallengesuperchallengeunchallengeableunchallengeablyunchallengedunderchallenge

Phrases & compounds

challenge runfloor temperature challengeframe challengeBatson challengechallenge coinchallenge examdrug challengehigh challengeice bucket challengeperemptory challengerise to the challengeroom temperature challenge

Related terms

challengerchallengingdechallengerechallenge
Wiktionary: “challenge” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Want to go deeper? See also “challenge” on Etymonline ↗

3 Original language

Where “challenge” came from before it was English.

Came into English from
Old French
Old French chalenge
Oldest written form
Latin
Latin calumnia “a false accusation, calumny”
Wiktionary: “challenge” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

4 Original meaning

What the word meant at the oldest point the record reaches.

Latin
“a false accusation, calumny”
Latin calumnia
Wiktionary: “challenge” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Historical meaning — Webster’s 1913

A historical record, labelled as such: some of these senses are dated or have since shifted.

challenge n. [OE. chalenge claim, accusation, challenge, OF. chalenge, chalonge, claim, accusation, contest, fr. L. calumnia false accusation, chicanery. See Calumny.]

  1. An invitation to engage in a contest or controversy of any kind; a defiance; specifically, a summons to fight a duel; also, the letter or message conveying the summons.
  2. The act of a sentry in halting any one who appears at his post, and demanding the countersign.
  3. A claim or demand.
  4. The opening and crying of hounds at first finding the scent of their game.

challenge v. t. [OE. chalengen to accuse, claim, OF. chalengier, chalongier, to claim, accuse, dispute, fr. L. calumniar to attack with false accusations. See Challenge, n., and cf. Calumniate.]

  1. To call to a contest of any kind; to call to answer; to defy.
  2. To call, invite, or summon to answer for an offense by personal combat.
  3. To claim as due; to demand as a right.
  4. To censure; to blame.

challenge v. i.

  1. To assert a right; to claim a place.
Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913), public domain, via GCIDE

5 Use it with confidence

Model sentences from the sources, matched to the meaning they show. Read each one aloud, then make your own in the game.

nounMeaning: An antagonization or instigation intended to convince a person to perform an action they otherwise would not.

Congratulations on managing to use the phrase “preponderant criterion” in a chart (“On your marks”, November 9th). Was this the work of a kakorrhaphiophobic journalist set a challenge by his colleagues, or simply an example of glossolalia?2013 November 30, Paul Davis, “Letters: Say it as simply as possible”, in The Economist, volume 409, number 8864:

Galactus meets your challenge, hears your call. This world, we'll bring destruction to it all!2023 December 18, “Galactus VS Unicron (Marvel Comics VS Transformers)” (16:29 from the start), in DEATH BATTLE!, season 10, episode 16, spoken by Galactus (Wolf Williams):

nounMeaning: A bid to overcome something.

a challenge to the king's authority

For Liverpool, their season will now be regarded as a relative disappointment after failure to add the FA Cup to the Carling Cup and not mounting a challenge to reach the Champions League places.2012 May 5, Phil McNulty, “Chelsea 2-1 Liverpool”, in BBC Sport:

nounMeaning: An attempt to take possession; a tackle.

Argentine midfielder Jonas Gutierrez added a superb second when he surged past four challenges to fire in low.2011 October 1, Saj Chowdhury, “Wolverhampton 1-2 Newcastle”, in BBC Sport:

nounMeaning: A judge's interest in the result of a case, constituting grounds for them to not be allowed to sit the case (e.g., a conflict of interest).

Consanguinity in direct line is a challenge for a judge when he or she is sitting cases.

nounMeaning: The act of seeking to remove a judge, arbitrator, or other judicial or semi-judicial figure for reasons of alleged bias or incapacity.

We're still waiting to hear how the court rules on our challenge of the arbitrator based on conflict of interest.

verbMeaning: To invite (someone) to take part in a competition.

We challenged the boys next door to a game of football.

By this I challenge him to single fight.c. 1591–1592 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Third Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, p

nounMeaning: a demanding or stimulating situation

they reacted irrationally to the challenge of Russian power

nounMeaning: questioning a statement and demanding an explanation

his challenge of the assumption that Japan is still our enemy

verbMeaning: take exception to

She challenged his claims

verbMeaning: issue a challenge to

Fischer challenged Spassky to a match

Princeton WordNet 3.0 — WordNet License
Wiktionary: “challenge” (via kaikki.org) — CC BY-SA 4.0

Three steps to owning it

  1. Pick one meaning above and read its model sentence out loud.
  2. Say who or what the word is about in your own life, then build a sentence around that.
  3. Check it against the definition: would a careful reader understand exactly that meaning?

6 The mastery game

Play it here, or print it and do it with pen and paper. At the end you will know the meanings, history, origin and original meaning — and you will have used the word yourself.

Step 1 of 10

Say it, then spell it

challenge

/ˈt͡ʃæl.ɪnd͡ʒ/

Say the word out loud three times, slowly. Notice the stressed syllable. When you are ready, hide it and spell it from memory.

Activate Words · Word-mastery worksheet · Name: ______________________ Date: __________

challenge

/ˈt͡ʃæl.ɪnd͡ʒ/ · noun, verb

Step 1 — Say it and write it

Say “challenge” out loud three times. Then cover the word and write it three times from memory.

Step 2 — Know every meaning

Read each definition. Then write it again in your own words.

1. (noun) An antagonization or instigation intended to convince a person to perform an action they otherwise would not.
2. (noun) A bid to overcome something.
3. (noun) An attempt to take possession; a tackle.
4. (noun) A summons to fight a duel; also, the letter or message conveying the summons.
5. (noun) The act of a sentry in halting a person and demanding the countersign, or (by extension) the action of a computer system demanding a password, etc.

Step 3 — Which meaning is it?

“a challenge to the king's authority”

A. A summons to fight a duel; also, the letter or message conveying the summons.
B. A bid to overcome something.
C. A difficult task, especially one that the person making the attempt finds more enjoyable because of that difficulty.

Circle the meaning used.

“Consanguinity in direct line is a challenge for a judge when he or she is sitting cases.”

A. A judge's interest in the result of a case, constituting grounds for them to not be allowed to sit the case (e.g., a conflict of interest).
B. An attempt to take possession; a tackle.
C. A bid to overcome something.

Circle the meaning used.

“We're still waiting to hear how the court rules on our challenge of the arbitrator based on conflict of interest.”

A. An attempt to take possession; a tackle.
B. The act of seeking to remove a judge, arbitrator, or other judicial or semi-judicial figure for reasons of alleged bias or incapacity.
C. A bid to overcome something.

Circle the meaning used.

Step 4 — History and origin

Which language did “challenge” come into English from?   A. New Latin  B. Medieval Latin  C. Middle French  D. Old French

Write the word’s journey back in time (each language and form):

Write three words built from “challenge” and what each means:

Step 5 — Original meaning

The earliest traceable form is Latin calumnia. What did it mean?

How does that original meaning connect to the meanings today?

Step 6 — Use it yourself

Write a sentence using “challenge” to mean: An antagonization or instigation intended to convince a person to perform an action they otherwise would not.
Write a sentence using “challenge” to mean: A bid to overcome something.
Write a sentence using “challenge” to mean: An attempt to take possession; a tackle.

☐ I can explain its meanings   ☐ I know its history   ☐ I know its original language   ☐ I know its original meaning   ☐ I can use it confidently

Answer key — challenge

Which meaning, sentence 1: B. A bid to overcome something.

Which meaning, sentence 2: A. A judge's interest in the result of a case, constituting grounds for them to not be allowed to sit the case (e.g., a conflict of interest).

Which meaning, sentence 3: B. The act of seeking to remove a judge, arbitrator, or other judicial or semi-judicial figure for reasons of alleged bias or incapacity.

Origin: D. Old French (Old French chalenge)

Journey: English challenge ← Middle English chalenge ← Old French chalenge ← Latin calumnia

Some derivatives: challengeable, challenged, challengee, challengeful, challengeless, challenger, challengest, challengeth

Original meaning: Latin calumnia — “a false accusation, calumny”

Etymology: From Middle English chalenge, variant with palatalization of Middle English kalange (“an accusation, claim”), from Old French chalenge, chalonge, palatalized Central French variants of Old Northern French calenge, calonge (see Continental Norman calengier), from Latin calumnia (“a false accusation, calumny”).

Sources: Wiktionary “challenge” (https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/challenge#English), CC BY-SA 4.0, via kaikki.org; Princeton WordNet 3.0; Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913, public domain) via GCIDE. Worksheet from https://activatewords.com/w/challenge