competition

(noun) a business relation in which two parties compete to gain customers. Example: "Business competition can be fiendish at times."

(noun) an occasion on which a winner is selected from among two or more contestants. Synonyms: contest.

(noun) the act of competing as for profit or a prize. Synonyms: contention, rivalry. Example: "The teams were in fierce contention for first place."

(noun) the contestant you hope to defeat. Synonyms: rival, challenger, competitor, contender. Examples: "He had respect for his rivals." "He wanted to know what the competition was doing."