A competitor (person, team, company, etc.) with the same goal as another, or striving to attain the same thing. Defeating a rival may be a primary or necessary goal of a competitor.
“Chris is my biggest rival in the 400-metre race.”
Someone or something with similar claims of quality or distinction as another.
“As a social historian, he has no rival.”
adjective
Having the same pretensions or claims; standing in competition for superiority.