What Is The Differemce Between...

[Stargazer]

a contestant and a competitor?

[Obiter]

I would say absolutely none. Both words have Latin roots, con and com meaning together, testant and petitor meaing one who strives or one who seeks.

[Mamyalynne]

I think the best answer I have read so far is here...


http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=802931

[jno]

you can be competitive without actually being in a contest; some people are like that. Though usually it does mean someone in a contest or competition. But contestant is a more limited word and you have to actually be in a contest.

Contest usually means something physical. You can have crossword competitions but not crossword contests.

[Sqad]

Both are nouns and synonymous and i agree with Obiter.

[atalanta]

I imagine that a competitor moves about and a contestant sits down.

[jno]

I'd say the opposite, atalanta, as in boxing contests/crossword competitions.

[beso]

Simple. One is a competitor when participating in a competition and a contestant when participating in a contest.:)