# challenge Pronunciation: say "CHAL-inj" /ˈt͡ʃæl.ɪnd͡ʒ/ ## Noun 1. A difficult task or problem that tests someone's ability, sometimes welcomed precisely because it is hard. - Simple: Something hard to do that tests how good or strong you are. - _Cooking for forty was a challenge she accepted with relish._ - _The new job offers challenges the old one never did._ 5. Words or actions that dispute whether something is true, correct, lawful, or legitimate. - Simple: Something said or done to ask if a thing is really true, fair, or allowed by law. - _Several states filed a legal challenge to the new regulation within a week of its passage._ - _The findings were a direct challenge to the theory most researchers had taken for granted._ 6. A bid to overcome or displace something; a contest for a position or title. - Simple: An attempt to defeat someone or something, or to win a position or title. - _Liverpool failed to mount a challenge for the Champions League places._ - _The senator survived a fierce challenge from a younger rival in the party primary._ 8. A call or invitation to someone to compete against you in a game, a contest, or a fight. - Simple: When you ask someone to play, race, or fight against you to see who is better. - _The champion issued an open challenge to any boxer willing to step into the ring with her._ - _He accepted his rival's challenge to a rematch on the same course next spring._ 9. An instigation or dare intended to make a person do something they otherwise would not. - Simple: A dare, or pressure to make someone do something they would not do on their own. - _When his classmates laid down a challenge to spend the night in the abandoned house, he was the only one who agreed._ - _The school warned parents about a viral challenge that pushes teenagers to try dangerous stunts._ 10. In sports, an attempt to take possession of the ball; a tackle. - Simple: In sports, an attempt to win possession of the ball. - _The defender won most of his challenges in the air during the second half._ - _A late challenge from behind earned him a yellow card._ 11. A formal or informal bid to get a book removed from a public library or school curriculum, or to restrict access to it. - Simple: An attempt to remove a book from a library or school reading list, or to limit who can read it. - _The association publishes a yearly list of the books that drew the most challenges._ - _A challenge is not a ban; the board decides whether the book stays._ 12. A sentry's act of halting someone and demanding the countersign; by extension, a computer system's demand for a password or other proof of identity. - Simple: A guard's demand to stop and give a password, or a computer's request for proof of identity. - _The two ships had lost contact in the dark and nearly fired on each other before the challenge was answered._ - _The server issues a challenge and checks the client's response against its key._ 14. A demand that someone fight a duel, or the letter or message delivering that demand. - Simple: In the past, a demand to fight a duel, or the letter carrying that demand. - _Hamilton accepted Burr's challenge and died for it._ - _A gentleman who refused a challenge was finished in society._ 15. In a trial, a lawyer's formal objection to a specific person sitting as a member of the jury. - Simple: In a court case, a lawyer's formal request that a certain person should not be on the jury. - _The defense raised a challenge against a juror who had once worked for the local police department._ - _After the prosecution used its last challenges, the remaining jurors were sworn in._ 18. An objection, raised when a person offers a ballot, that the person is not legally qualified to vote. *(US)* - Simple: In the US, a claim that a person is not allowed to vote, made when they try to cast their ballot. - _A challenge at the polls must rest on personal knowledge, not suspicion._ - _A poll watcher raised a challenge when the man's address did not match the one on the voter rolls._ 20. In law, the act of seeking to remove a judge, arbitrator, or similar figure for alleged bias or incapacity. - Simple: In law, an attempt to remove a judge or similar official who may be unfair or unable to act. - _The defense filed a challenge to the judge, claiming she had worked for the plaintiff's firm._ - _A challenge to the presiding judge must be raised before the hearing begins._ ## Verb 2. To be difficult or demanding for. - Simple: To be hard for someone. - _The final mountain stage challenged even the strongest riders in the race._ - _Steep grades challenge even modern locomotives._ 3. To question openly whether something such as a claim, decision, or rule is true, right, fair, or legal, rather than simply accept it; to dispute or contest it. - Simple: To question whether something is true, right, fair, or legal instead of simply accepting it. - _Several scientists challenged the study's findings, saying the sample was far too small._ - _Good editors challenge every figure before it is printed._ 4. To call on someone to take part in a contest or competition, usually against you, such as a game, a race, or a fight. - Simple: To ask someone to compete against you. - _Every spring the seniors challenge the faculty to a softball game._ - _The club has challenged its rivals to a charity match._ 7. To dare someone to do something, often to test their courage or ability or to suggest that they cannot do it. - Simple: To dare someone to do something. - _I challenge anyone to find a single error in this report._ - _The advertisement challenged readers to find a cheaper price anywhere._ 13. In military use, to halt and demand the countersign from someone attempting to pass the lines. - Simple: Of a guard, to stop someone and demand the password. - _At the gate, a guard challenged the jeep and asked the driver for the password._ - _Standing orders require the picket to challenge every approaching vehicle._ 16. In a trial, to formally object to a particular person serving as a juror. - Simple: In law, to object to a person being on a jury. - _Either side may challenge a potential juror who seems unable to judge the case fairly._ - _The prosecution challenged every juror who admitted reading about the case._ 17. In US usage, to object to the acceptance of someone's vote, as on the ground that the person is not a qualified voter. *(US)* - Simple: In the US, to say that a person should not be allowed to vote. - _Poll watchers who challenge a voter must state a reason recognized by state law._ - _Dozens of ballots were challenged and set aside for review._ 19. In North American usage, to take an examination to receive credit for a course without taking the course. *(Canada, US)* - Simple: In the US and Canada, to take an exam for course credit without taking the course. - _Students who already speak Spanish can challenge the introductory course and earn credit by passing its final exam._ - _She already spoke fluent Spanish, so she decided to challenge the final exam instead of taking the course._ ## Noun 21. In law, rarely: a judge's interest in the outcome of a case, which disqualifies the judge from hearing it. *(rare)* - Simple: In law, a reason a judge must not hear a case, such as having a stake in it. ## Verb 22. To censure or blame someone. *(obsolete)* - Simple: In old use, to blame or find fault with someone. 23. To claim as due; to demand as a right. *(obsolete)* - Simple: In old use, to demand something as your right. ## Other meanings - (noun) In hunting, the opening and crying of hounds on first finding the scent of their quarry. ## Origin It comes from Middle English chalenge, a variant of kalange ("an accusation, claim"), from Old French chalenge, itself from Latin calumnia ("a false accusation, calumny"). It is a doublet of "calumny"; where the Latin word itself came from is uncertain. Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/challenge (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).