How to say "challenger" in Japanese

• チャレンジャー
  nounThe katakana rendering of English 'challenger'. It covers a person who takes on a challenge, such as a competitor facing a reigning champion, and is used loosely for someone who embraces new challenges.
• 挑戦者ちょうせんしゃ
  nounThe kanji word, literally 'one who challenges'. It typically names the challenger in a match or contest — the side taking on the champion or title holder — and reads naturally in sports reports and announcements.
  彼かれはこれまでいとも簡単かんたんにたくさんの挑戦者ちょうせんしゃをリングに沈しずめてきた。↗

  He's mowed down a parade of challengers before.

Both words denote a person who takes on a challenge, and both are comparatively uncommon: 「チャレンジャー」 is the katakana loanword, 挑戦者 the kanji compound, so the choice is mostly one of tone and context.

Usage comparisons are AI-assisted and cross-checked by multiple models; for study reference only

• チャレンジャーchallenger
• 挑戦者ちょうせんしゃchallenger