# competition

> rivalry where multiple parties strive for a goal which cannot be shared

**Wikidata**: [Q476300](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q476300)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Competition)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/competition

## Summary
Competition is defined as a rivalry where multiple parties strive for a goal that cannot be shared by all participants simultaneously. It functions as a specific type of interaction and a subclass of rivalry, standing in direct opposition to concepts like mutual aid and cooperation. This fundamental social behavior is recognized globally across numerous languages, academic disciplines, and cultural contexts as a distinct form of competitive activity.

## Key Facts
- **Definition**: A rivalry where multiple parties strive for a goal which cannot be shared.
- **Classification**: It is a type of interaction and a subclass of both interaction and rivalry.
- **Opposite Concepts**: It is the direct opposite of mutual aid and cooperation.
- **GND Identifier**: 4137679-1 (German National Library), with the preferred name "Wettkampf".
- **YSO Identifier**: 836 (General Finnish Ontology), preferred term with qualifiers "kilpailut", "tävlingar", and "competitions" (referenced 2022-02-10).
- **UMLS CUI**: C0009495 (Unified Medical Language System), referencing "Competitive Behavior" (referenced 2023-05-24).
- **Mesh Descriptor**: D003163, with the specific tree code F01.145.813.105 under "social behavior".
- **Freebase ID**: /m/018tl7.
- **Wikidata Description**: "rivalry where multiple parties strive for a goal which cannot be shared".
- **Wikipedia Languages**: Available in 54 languages including Arabic, Chinese, English, French, German, Japanese, Russian, and Spanish.
- **Sitelink Count**: 60 distinct Wikipedia language versions.
- **Commons Category**: "Competitions".
- **BBC Things ID**: 781734b5-3840-48de-a52d-f798b1831b25.
- **Equivalent Class**: Mapped to `http://dbpedia.org/ontology/Contest` (referenced 2015-06-11).
- **Wikimedia Vital Status**: Listed on the "Wikipedia:Vital articles/Level/4" list as of 2022-10-31.
- **Omegawiki Defined Meaning**: 692.
- **Zhihu Topic ID**: 19555119 (Chinese: 竞争).
- **Encyclopedia of China (Third Edition) ID**: 143835.
- **Australian Thesaurus of Education Descriptors ID**: 10388.
- **UNESCO Thesaurus ID**: concept5934.
- **Fandom Wiki ID**: "vs" (English language qualifier).
- **Properties for this Type**: P710 (Participant).
- **Main Category**: Category:Competition.

## FAQs
**What is the fundamental definition of competition?**
Competition is a specific form of rivalry where multiple parties strive to achieve a singular goal that cannot be shared among them. It is categorized as a type of interaction and is distinct from cooperative behaviors.

**How is competition classified in medical and psychological contexts?**
In medical and psychological taxonomies, it is identified by the UMLS code C0009495 and the MeSH descriptor D003163. It is specifically classified under the MeSH tree code F01.145.813.105 as a form of social behavior.

**What are the primary linguistic variations for this concept?**
The concept is documented in 54 languages on Wikipedia, ranging from major languages like English, Chinese, and Spanish to others like Basque, Icelandic, and Tibetan. It also appears in specialized thesauri with terms like "Wettkampf" in German and "konkurrence" in Danish.

**How does competition relate to cooperation?**
Competition is defined as the direct opposite of mutual aid and cooperation. While cooperation involves shared goals, competition involves a scenario where the goal is exclusive to one party.

**What are the key identifiers used in academic databases?**
Academic and library systems use various identifiers, including the GND ID 4137679-1, the YSO ID 836, and the Freebase ID /m/018tl7. It is also indexed in the UNESCO Thesaurus as concept5934 and the Australian Thesaurus of Education Descriptors as 10388.

## Why It Matters
Competition serves as a foundational mechanism for understanding social dynamics, economic behavior, and biological interactions. By defining a scenario where goals are non-shareable, it provides a framework for analyzing conflict, resource allocation, and performance optimization across various fields. Its significance is underscored by its inclusion in vital article lists for Wikipedia and its detailed classification in major medical, educational, and cultural thesauri. The concept bridges diverse disciplines, from psychology (as "Competitive Behavior") to art history and education, making it a critical term for cross-cultural and interdisciplinary research.

## Notable For
- **Global Recognition**: It is one of the few concepts with a dedicated entry in 54 different Wikipedia languages, indicating its universal relevance.
- **Cross-Disciplinary Classification**: It is uniquely mapped across medical (MeSH, UMLS), educational (Australian Thesaurus), and cultural (UNESCO, Grove Art) ontologies.
- **Vital Status**: It is recognized as a Level 4 vital article by the Wikimedia project, highlighting its importance to general knowledge.
- **Semantic Precision**: It is distinguished from similar terms like "contest" or "rivalry" through specific ontology mappings like the YSO ID 836 and Omegawiki meaning 692.
- **Visual Documentation**: It is supported by specific image files on Wikimedia Commons depicting diverse forms such as Formula One racing, pie-eating contests, and deer fighting.

## Body

### Definition and Core Characteristics
Competition is fundamentally defined as a rivalry where multiple parties strive for a goal which cannot be shared. This definition establishes it as a specific type of interaction where the success of one party inherently limits the success of others. It is classified as a subclass of both "interaction" and "rivalry," placing it within a broader hierarchy of social behaviors. The concept is explicitly positioned as the opposite of "mutual aid" and "cooperation," creating a clear dichotomy in behavioral analysis. The term is also associated with the property P710, which denotes the participant in the event.

### Taxonomy and Ontological Classifications
The entity is rigorously classified across multiple international ontologies and thesauri. In the General Finnish Ontology (YSO), it holds the ID 836 and is marked as a preferred term with qualifiers including "kilpailut," "tävlingar," and "competitions." The Unified Medical Language System (UMLS) assigns it the CUI C0009495, referencing "Competitive Behavior" with a specific citation date of 2023-05-24. In the Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), it is identified by descriptor D003163 and tree code F01.145.813.105, categorized under "social behavior." The German National Library (GND) uses the ID 4137679-1 with the preferred name "Wettkampf." Additionally, it is mapped to the DBpedia ontology class `http://dbpedia.org/ontology/Contest` as an equivalent class, a mapping referenced on 2015-06-11.

### Linguistic Diversity and Global Reach
The concept of competition is represented in an extensive array of languages, with Wikipedia articles available in 54 languages. These include Arabic (ar), Chinese (zh, zh_yue), English (en), French (fr), German (de), Japanese (ja), Russian (ru), and many others such as Basque (eu), Icelandic (is), and Tibetan (bo). In specialized contexts, it appears as "konkurrence" in Danish, "Wettbewerb" in German, and "競争" in Japanese. The BBC Things database identifies it with the UUID 781734b5-3840-48de-a52d-f798b1831b25. The Zhihu topic ID 19555119 specifically links to the Chinese term "竞争." The Fandom Wiki uses the ID "vs" for the English language context.

### Academic and Institutional References
Numerous academic and institutional bodies have cataloged this entity. The Encyclopedia of China (Third Edition) assigns it ID 143835. The Australian Thesaurus of Education Descriptors uses ID 10388. The UNESCO Thesaurus identifies it as concept5934, with qualifiers in Arabic, French, Russian, and Spanish. The Grove Art Online uses ID T018921 for "Competition." The RKD Thesaurus assigns ID 64646. The Museum Digital Tag ID is 8814. The Analysis & Policy Observatory uses term ID 20834. The TUBITAK Sosyal Bilimler Ansiklopedisi uses the term "rekabet." The Europeana Fashion Vocabulary uses ID 10499. The Thesaurus for Graphic Materials uses ID tgm002391, specifically noting "Competition (Psychology)."

### Digital Identifiers and Metadata
In the digital knowledge ecosystem, the entity is linked to several key identifiers. The Freebase ID is /m/018tl7. The Wikikids ID is "Competitie." The ABC News Topic ID is "competitions." The Europeana Fashion Vocabulary ID is 10499. The Omegawiki defined meaning is 692. The Wikipedia title is simply "Competition." The Commons category is "Competitions." The sitelink count stands at 60, indicating the breadth of its coverage across language editions. It is also listed on the "on_focus_list_of_wikimedia_project" as a vital article at Level 4, with a point in time of 2022-10-31.

### Visual and Media Representations
The concept is visually represented through specific media files on Wikimedia Commons. These include images of Formula One racing, a pie-eating contest in Seattle from 2003, and a depiction of a deer fight ("Hirschkampf"). These images illustrate the diverse manifestations of competition, ranging from high-speed motorsports to culinary contests and natural animal behavior. The "different_from" property notes a distinction from other entries also named "competition," ensuring semantic clarity in database management.

### Relationships and Properties
The entity is connected to various properties and related concepts. It is a subclass of "interaction" and "rivalry." It is the opposite of "mutual aid" and "cooperation." The property P710 is designated for the participants of this type of interaction. The "topic's_main_category" is "Category:Competition," referenced via P3452. The "equivalent_class" links it to the DBpedia ontology of a Contest. The "references" for various IDs include sources like Q48183 (GND), Q89345680 (YSO), Q118645236 (UMLS), Q64139102 (KBPedia), and Q18336371 (BBC). The "aliases" list includes terms such as "rivalry," "competitive behavior," "Wettstreit," "competicion," "concurso," and various translations in Japanese, Chinese, Russian, and Korean.

## References

1. BBC Things
2. YSO-Wikidata mapping project
3. UMLS 2023
4. KBpedia