sumo

noun

su·​mo ˈsü-(ˌ)mō 

: a Japanese form of wrestling in which a contestant loses if he is forced out of the ring or if any part of his body except the soles of his feet touches the ground

Examples of sumo in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Explore Japan’s rich cultural heritage, from a sumo stable and Edo-period neighborhood to kimono fittings, pottery workshops, and UNESCO World Heritage temples. —Bon Appétit, Bon Appetit Magazine, 4 Dec. 2025

Belly bucking is like sumo wrestling, but no hands are allowed and, apparently, no shirts are either. —Scott Thompson, FOXNews.com, 29 Nov. 2025

Takaichi is prohibited from entering the ring according to the rules of sumo, which consider women impure. —Jay Ganglani, NBC news, 22 Nov. 2025

Abe’s protege With all the ceremony, Trump may be reminded of his 2019 visit with Abe, when the former Japanese leader brought Trump to see a sumo wrestling tournament. —Miranda Jeyaretnam, Time, 28 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Japanese sumō

First Known Use

1893, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

sumo

noun

su·​mo ˈsü-mō 

: a Japanese form of wrestling in which a contestant loses if forced out of the ring or if any part of the body except the soles of the feet touches the ground

Etymology

Japanese