sport
spawt
Sport (noun) means a physical activity involving skill and competition, played under a set of rules. Example: “Our school offers every sport from rowing to badminton.”
noun
1
A physical activity involving skill and competition, played under a set of rules.
"Our school offers every sport from rowing to badminton."
"Football is the most popular sport in the country."
"She plays several sports, including tennis and swimming."
2
Someone who reacts to losing or being teased in a good-natured, gracious way.
"Thanks for being such a good sport when we teased you about your hat."
"She's a real sport, laughing along when the joke was on her."
"He was a good sport about losing the bet."
verb
1
To wear or display something noticeably.
"He sported a ridiculous moustache for the whole of the summer."
"The team all sported matching scarves in the colours of the club."
"She was sporting a bright red jacket at the party."
How to use sport
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA competitive physical game or activity, someone who takes losing well, or to wear something visibly.
Common pairings
play sport
good sport
sport a new look
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like sport.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- sports
- Third person singular
- sports
- Past tense
- sported
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Our school offers every _____ from rowing to badminton.
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.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for sport
See all rhymes for 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.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include sport:
