Rival
U.S. Naturalization Test (2025 Standard) glossary · Civics
Definition
A competitor - the Soviet Union, in the Cold War.
Rival in plain English
A rival is a competitor — someone or some country trying to come out on top against you. In U.S. history, the classic example is the Soviet Union during the Cold War (roughly 1945 to 1991), when the U.S. and the Soviets were the two most powerful nations competing for influence over the rest of the world without ever fighting each other directly. Think of two top teams in the same league who never stop trying to outdo each other — that tense competition is what "rival" captures.
Related U.S. Naturalization Test (2025 Standard) terms
U.S. Naturalization Test (2025 Standard) practice questions · U.S. Naturalization Test (2025 Standard) flashcards · U.S. Naturalization Test (2025 Standard) study guide