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Competition seems no less applicable to a one-time event than the word contest (observe how this reporter talks about the outdoor cooking competition).
Source: word choice - "Contest" vs. "competition" - English Language & Usage Stack Exchange
In the above sentence, what does the 'no less applicable to' mean?
The preposition used with an adjective is usually the same as the preposition used with the adjective's verbal form.
We can apply a label to something.
If it is a suitable label (the can of beans is labelled "Beans") then we can say that
The label is applicable to it.
applicable to = can (truthfully) be applied to.
When we say that a label can be applied to something or that a label is applicable, we mean that the label is correct or accurate or true.
No less = equally (or perhaps even greater)
definition of applicable (from dictionary.com)
adjective
- applying or capable of being applied; relevant; suitable;
We should also note that to apply means to "put into use". Less is just a quantifier, and "no" is a negation.
So this simply means that the competition seems to be equally suitable to a one-time event, and to the word contest. The competition is not any less competent and able to perform in a one-time event than it is in a word contest.
