champion
champion (chămʹpē-ən) noun
1. One that wins first place or first prize in a competition.
2. One that is clearly superior or has the attributes of a winner: a champion at teaching.
3. An ardent defender or supporter of a cause or another person: a champion of the homeless.
4. One who fights; a warrior.
verb, transitive
championed, championing, champions
1. To fight for, defend, or support as a champion: championed the cause of civil rights. See synonyms at support.
2. Obsolete. To defy or challenge.
adjective
1. Holding first place or prize: a champion show dog.
2. Superior to all others: "the champion playboy of the Western World" (John Millington Synge).
[Middle English champioun, combatant, athlete, from Old French champion, from Medieval Latin campiō, campiōn-, from Latin campus, field.]