What term describes a contest between rivals?

The term that best describes a contest between rivals is competition. In a competition, individuals or groups engage in activities where they strive to outperform one another to achieve a specific goal, such as winning a prize or gaining recognition. This concept applies broadly across various contexts, including sports, academics, and business, where the nature of the rivalry drives participants to enhance their skills or performance.

Collaboration, on the other hand, refers to individuals or groups working together towards a common goal, which is contrary to the concept of rivalry. Exhibition typically signifies a display or showcase rather than an active contest. Challenge can refer to an invitation to compete or prove oneself but does not inherently convey the structured rivalry that competition does. Therefore, competition accurately encapsulates the essence of a contest between rivals in its definition and usage.