invitational
/ˌɪnvɪˈteɪʃənl/ (bre, ipa) · /ˌɪnvɪˈteɪʃənl/ (ame, ipa) · /ˌin-və-ˈtā-sh(ə-)nəl/ (ame, mw)
invitational — noun
- invitationalsingular
- invitationalsplural
1. a sports competition, such as a tournament or race, that you may enter only if y
a sports competition, such as a tournament or race, that you may enter only if you have received a formal invitation
Oluwaseun was thrilled to receive a spot at the national swimming invitational in Abuja.
collocation: swimming invitational
The annual tennis invitational in Mumbai draws top junior players from across Asia.
Elena's gymnastics club hosted an invitational for young athletes last spring.
Hassan placed third in the chess invitational despite being the youngest competitor.
Pablo's university sent its top-ranked fencing team to the invitational in São Paulo last October.
- tournament
broader — does not imply that entry is by invitation only
- championship
implies the highest level of competition, but may or may not be invitation-only
- open competition
an event that anyone can enter, without needing an invitation
用法筆記
Almost always refers to a sports competition; it does not mean a social event such as a party or wedding to which guests are invited.
常見錯誤
invitational — adjective
- invitationalpositive
- more invitationalcomparative
- most invitationalsuperlative
1. open only to people who have received an invitation, rather than to the general
open only to people who have received an invitation, rather than to the general public
Eva attended an invitational workshop for early-career scientists in Berlin.
collocation: invitational + event type
The dance competition was strictly invitational; no walk-in entries were allowed.
collocation: strictly invitational
Guo received a letter for an invitational art fair in Shanghai.
Hana's daughter was proud to join the invitational youth music camp.
Xin's invitational debate in Kyoto drew the top university teams from across Japan.
- invitation-only
near-equivalent; slightly more common in everyday speech
- exclusive
broader — can mean expensive, elite, or restricted for reasons other than invitation
- restricted
broader — does not specify why access is limited
- open
meaning accessible to anyone, without restrictions
文法句型
invitational + event noun
用法筆記
Typically appears before the noun it describes (attributive position). Distinguish from sense 2 (SUBMITTED BY REQUEST): this sense is about who may take part, not how something was created.
2. produced after the creator received a formal invitation to do so; used of poems,
produced after the creator received a formal invitation to do so; used of poems, essays, paintings, and similar works created because someone asked for them rather than being volunteered freely
Tariq was asked to create an invitational sculpture for the gallery's spring exhibition.
pattern: was asked to create + invitational + artwork
The review's editor asked Minh to write an invitational essay on climate migration.
collocation: invitational essay; pattern: asked to write
The foundation commissioned Ana to paint an invitational portrait that anchored the charity auction.
Qing wrote an invitational poem for the mayor's inauguration ceremony.
The city's autumn literary prize judged all invitational poems separately from the open entries.
- commissioned
implies the creator was paid; narrower than 'invitational'
- solicited
broader — used in business and legal contexts, not only for creative works
- unsolicited
describes work offered freely, without being asked
文法句型
invitational + creative work noun
用法筆記
Rare and formal. Distinguish from sense 1 (RESTRICTED TO INVITEES): this sense is about how a work came into being (at someone's request), not about who may attend an event.