sporting
12 synonyms and 1 antonym for sporting, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Relating to sports.
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.
Synonyms by Meaning
1. adj
Relating to sports.
“The town is building a new sporting centre with a pool and gym.”
athletic
fair
generous
gracious
good-natured
magnanimous
betting
sporty
sportsmanlike
gambling
dissipated
clean
2. adj
Fair and generous in behavior, especially in competition; showing good sportsmanship.
“That was a very sporting thing to do, shaking hands after losing.”
Opposites
How to use sporting
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
sporting event
a sporting chance
sporting gesture
Etymology
By surface analysis, formed from sport and -ing.
Full origin of sporting →Frequently asked questions
What does “sporting” mean?
The word “sporting” means relating to sports. In plain terms, related to sports, or behaving fairly and graciously.
How do you pronounce “sporting”?
“Sporting” is pronounced SPAW-tihng (/ˈspɔɹtɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “sporting” in a sentence?
Here is “sporting” used in a sentence: “It was a big weekend for sporting events across the country.”
What part of speech is “sporting”?
“Sporting” is an adjective.
Is “sporting” a common word?
“Sporting” is a fairly common word in modern English.
How many meanings does “sporting” have?
“Sporting” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to sports.
What is the difference between "sporting" and "sports"?
"Sporting" is an adjective meaning relating to sports, as in a sporting event or sporting goods. "Sports" is the plural noun and is also used attributively, so both a sporting event and a sports event are common.
What is the difference between "sporting" and "sportsmanlike"?
Both describe fair, generous behavior in competition. "Sportsmanlike" focuses specifically on conduct within a game, while "sporting" can also simply mean relating to sports in general.
