reigning champion

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "reigning champion" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used to refer to the current titleholder in a competition or sport. Example: "After winning the tournament for the third consecutive year, she solidified her status as the reigning champion."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

It entertains reigning champion Leinster on Saturday.

The New York Times - Sports

Facebook, where one can easily misplace 12 hours, is the reigning champion of this camp.

The New York Times

Dewey & LeBoeuf is the reigning champion of a New York lawyers' softball league.

The New York Times

Cheruiyot, the reigning champion of the Boston and Chicago Marathons, finished third in 1 00 58.

The New York Times - Sports

But it is Tor.com that takes the crown as reigning champion of science-fiction magazines.

The Guardian - Books

Reigning champion Mats Wilander was seeded second behind Lendl, with local hope Pat Cash fifth.

The Guardian - Sport

Furyk, 40, the reigning champion of this event, won a Tour-leading tournamentsamenone nofe of them majors.

The New York Times - Sports

Reigning champion Chris Froome dropped out after crashing twice.

BBC

Reigning champion Lewis Hamilton will again write an exclusive column for the BBC Sport website.

BBC

Reigning champion Hanagan could extend his lead in De Sousa's absence.

BBC

Reigning champion Phil Mickelson never threatened as he shot 74 to finish well down the field.

BBC

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In business or tech contexts, use the phrase metaphorically to describe a market leader or a dominant product.

Common error

Avoid writing "current reigning champion". The word "reigning" inherently means they are the champion right now, making the addition of "current" redundant and stylistically weak.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "reigning champion" functions as a compound noun phrase or an adjective-noun pairing. The present participle "reigning" acts as an attributive adjective, modifying the noun "champion" to specify that the status is active and ongoing. According to Ludwig AI, this structure is standard for denoting temporal status in competitive hierarchies.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

75%

Wiki

15%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

2%

Academic

3%

Social Media

5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "reigning champion" is a robust and universally recognized term in English. Based on data from Ludwig AI, it is most frequently used in News & Media to describe individuals or teams holding a title in sports like tennis, golf, or racing. However, its utility extends into the business world, where it describes industry leaders like Uber or LinkedIn. It is grammatically correct and preferred over redundant forms like "current reigning". Whether you are writing about a Grand Slam winner or a market-dominating software, this phrase effectively communicates current dominance and prestige.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

defending champion

Emphasizes the active role of protecting the title in an ongoing competition.

current titleholder

A more formal and literal description of the person holding the rank.

returning champion

Specifically refers to a champion who has come back to compete again.

standing champion

Focuses on the current status at this exact moment.

reigning victor

A more literary or dramatic variation of the phrase.

incumbent winner

Uses more formal, slightly political language to describe the current position holder.

reigning master

Often used in skill-based competitions like chess or martial arts.

existing champion

A less idiomatic but grammatically correct way to denote the current holder.

current number one

Focuses on the ranking rather than the title itself.

last season's winner

A plain description of the most recent historical victory.

FAQs

What is the difference between "reigning champion" and "defending champion"?

While often interchangeable, a "defending champion" specifically refers to someone currently competing to keep their title, whereas "reigning champion" simply describes their status as the current holder of that title.

Can I use "reigning champion" for a company?

Yes, it is common in business journalism to describe a market leader as the "dominant player" or the "reigning champion" of an industry.

Is "reigning champion" formal enough for an essay?

Yes, it is considered a "standard expression" and is perfectly acceptable in formal, academic, and professional writing.

What is a more formal way to say "reigning champion"?

You might consider using "current titleholder" or "incumbent" if the context is highly professional or technical.