noun
Refers to the person or side that wins a game, contest, election, battle, or other competition. The opposite is 敗者.
Antonyms: 敗者
試合の勝者にはトロフィーが贈られる。
The winner of the match will be awarded a trophy.
勝者だけが次のラウンドに進める。
Only the winners can advance to the next round.
More casual and often social/economic in nuance, meaning the 'winning side' or people considered successful.
A Sino-Japanese compound: 勝 means 'victory' or 'win', and 者 means 'person', giving the meaning 'person who wins'.