runner-up
Loading your saved state.
runner-up
A person or team that takes second place in a championship or competition.
Nach einer knappen Niederlage im Finale wurde der Verein nur Vizemeister.
After a narrow defeat in the final, the club only became runner-up.
The word is made up of the prefix 'Vize-' and the noun 'Meister' (champion/master). 'Vize-' means 'second' or 'deputy', so 'der Vizemeister' is literally the 'second champion'.
Die Vorsilbe „Vize-“ findet man auch in Wörtern wie „Vizekanzler“ oder „Vizepräsident“.
The prefix 'Vize-' is also found in words like 'Vizekanzler' (vice chancellor) or 'Vizepräsident' (vice president).
The most common verb used with 'Vizemeister' (runner-up) is 'werden' (to become). You say that a team or a person 'Vizemeister wird' (becomes runner-up).
Trotz der guten Saison ist die Mannschaft am Ende nur Vizemeister geworden.
Despite the good season, the team only became runner-up in the end.
This word is used almost exclusively in the context of sports and other competitions to refer to the person or team that comes second in a championship.
Bei der Schachweltmeisterschaft wurde er zum dritten Mal in Folge Vizemeister.
At the World Chess Championship, he became runner-up for the third time in a row.
master / champion
'der Meister' and 'der Vizemeister' are both used in competitions and championships. But they differ clearly in the result. 'Meister' is the winner, meaning first place. 'Vizemeister' is the person or team in second place. Learners may confuse the words because they look similar and both have to do with a championship. The important part is the prefix 'Vize-': here it does not mean winner, but second behind the champion.
Der Vizemeister war enttäuscht, weil ihm nur ein Punkt zum Titel fehlte.
The runner-up was disappointed because they were only one point short of the title.
Der neue Meister feierte den Sieg mit seinen Fans im Stadion.
The new champion celebrated the victory with his fans in the stadium.