In professional sumo wrestling, the top-ranked wrestler below yokozuna is called an ōzeki.
Ōzeki is the second-highest rank in professional sumo. Unlike yokozuna, an ōzeki can be demoted after a sufficiently poor performance, although special protections apply after a wrestler records a losing tournament. Promotion to ōzeki requires sustained success at the upper ranks rather than a single championship.
The rank has ancient roots and is one of the four main titled ranks known as san'yaku. The others are yokozuna, sekiwake, and komusubi. Wrestlers in these ranks face stronger opposition and are expected to perform consistently against elite competition.
The macron in ōzeki indicates a long vowel; “ozeki” is also common in English. Sekiwake and komusubi are below ōzeki, while maegashira belongs to the untitled rank group.