sport
24 synonyms and 0 antonyms for sport, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A physical activity involving skill and competition, played under a set of rules.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
How to use sport
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French desporter, "to divert or amuse," ultimately from Latin portare, "to carry" — the idea of carrying the mind away from serious matters.
Full origin of sport →Frequently asked questions
What does “sport” mean?
The word “sport” means a physical activity involving skill and competition, played under a set of rules. In plain terms, a competitive physical game or activity, someone who takes losing well, or to wear something visibly.
How do you pronounce “sport”?
“Sport” is pronounced spawt (/spɔɹt/ in IPA).
How do you use “sport” in a sentence?
Here is “sport” used in a sentence: “Football is the most popular sport in the country.”
What part of speech is “sport”?
Depending on how it is used, “sport” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “sport” come from?
The word “sport” comes from Latin. From Old French desporter, "to divert or amuse," ultimately from Latin portare, "to carry" — the idea of carrying the mind away from serious matters.
Is “sport” a common word?
“Sport” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A1 level.
How many meanings does “sport” have?
“Sport” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a physical activity involving skill and competition, played under a set of rules.
What is the difference between a sport and a game?
All sports are competitive activities, but not all games are sports. A sport generally requires physical exertion and athletic skill, played under rules — like football or swimming. A game can be purely mental, such as chess or cards. Physical effort is usually what tips a game over into being called a sport.
What are the types of sports?
Sports are often grouped as team sports, like football and basketball, or individual sports, like tennis and athletics. Other useful groupings include contact sports, racket sports, water sports, and motor sports. They can also be split into amateur and professional, or indoor and outdoor.
Is chess a sport?
It is debated. Chess demands skill, competition, and rules, and some bodies officially recognise it as a 'mind sport.' But because it involves little physical exertion, many people classify it as a game rather than a sport. The disagreement comes down to how much weight you give to physical effort.