concurs

Concurs is a term used in several Romance languages, most notably Romanian and Catalan, to denote a contest, competition, or selection process based on merit. In Romanian, concursul (the noun form) commonly refers to any organized competition with a prize or an open call for participants, and especially to a competitive examination used to appoint civil servants, admit to a program, or hire staff. Outside such official contexts, a concours may describe literary, artistic, or scientific contests that are judged by a panel and awarded according to ranking or scoring.

The word is derived from Latin concursus meaning "a coming together" and entered Romanian through French and other channels. In Catalan, concursa or concurs has a similar meaning and is used for both informal competitions and formal evaluations, including public calls for tenders or positions in institutions.

Typical features of a concours include formally defined eligibility criteria, a public call or invitation to participate, a jury or panel of assessors, and a transparent scoring system leading to ranking, prizes, or appointment. They serve purposes such as stimulating competition, selecting qualified individuals, or awarding recognition.

See also: competition, contest, examination, public service examination, literary competition.