noun
sportsmanship
noun
1
Fair, gracious, and respectful behavior in competition, win or lose.
"Shaking hands after the match is a small but important act of sportsmanship."
"The coach emphasized sportsmanship over winning at all costs."
How to Use Sportsmanship
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishPlaying fair and treating opponents with respect and grace.
Common pairings
good sportsmanship
poor sportsmanship
Word Forms
sportsmanships plural
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Shaking hands after the match is a small but important act of _____.
Etymology
Formed from "sportsman" plus "-ship," the same suffix seen in "leadership."