game day

noun

variants or less commonly gameday

ˈgām-ˌdā 

plural game days also gamedays

: the day on which a particular sports team plays a game

Scan the parking lot of any sports arena on game day and you're sure to see a flock of pickup trucks and SUVs hosting a big party of tailgaters.

—Joe Bruzek

Even on game days, whether you're starting or not, if your name's on the list, you have a job to do.

—Julie Foundy

[Coach Chris] Jans and his players have both pondered the gap between gamedays and training, and why the positive attitude and strong weeks of practice haven't shown up on court when the lights turn on …

—Colin Damms

These 13 game day snacks are the kind you can rely on whether folks are dropping by early or sticking around longer than planned.

—Jenn Allen

Gameday traditions, including tailgating and the pregame experience, are an important part of what makes Michigan State football gamedays special.

—J Batt

—often hyphenated when used before another noun

Dress in your favorite game-day attire.

—Lauren Cheramie

Examples of game day in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Each team gets two practice squad elevations for game day, and each practice squad player gets three elevations per season. — Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 16 Sep. 2026

While running the two bars, Sanders would share drink recipes for game days with KCTV5 viewers and was consistently the subject of news stories. — Katelyn Umholtz, Kansas City Star, 15 Sep. 2026

Some who played and worked with Garrett during his nine-year career in Cleveland described him as a supremely competitive game day force who does his own thing to get ready during the week. — Mike Sando, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1882, in the meaning defined above