spectator sport
noun
1
: a sport (such as football, baseball, ice hockey, etc.) that many people watch
2
: something that people watch other people do without becoming involved themselves
For many, politics has become a spectator sport.
Examples of spectator sport in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Today cohost Dylan Dreyer just showed how golf can be a dangerous spectator sport.
—
Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Nov. 2025
Once restricted to an elite group of editors sitting in the front row at runway shows, critiquing collections has become a spectator sport, with millions delivering instant verdicts online.
—Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 3 Nov. 2025
Celebrity engagements are a spectator sport.
—Malaika Crawford, Vogue, 12 Sep. 2025
Building new businesses is not a spectator sport.
—Andrew Binns, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Democracy is not a spectator sport.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
In these times, democracy is not a spectator sport.
—Carl Yaeckel, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 July 2025
Already locked into a weekly broadcast contract with CBS, with a slick marketing campaign behind it, the PBR Team Series is gaining popularity as a spectator sport.
—Alex Lowe, Kansas City Star, 9 July 2025
Democracy cannot be a spectator sport, especially at this time.
—Angus King, Time, 18 Apr. 2025
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Sydney Bucksbaum, Entertainment Weekly, 17 Nov. 2025
Once restricted to an elite group of editors sitting in the front row at runway shows, critiquing collections has become a spectator sport, with millions delivering instant verdicts online.
—Joelle Diderich, Footwear News, 3 Nov. 2025
Celebrity engagements are a spectator sport.
—Malaika Crawford, Vogue, 12 Sep. 2025
Building new businesses is not a spectator sport.
—Andrew Binns, Forbes.com, 1 Sep. 2025
Democracy is not a spectator sport.
—Dan Gooding, MSNBC Newsweek, 29 Aug. 2025
In these times, democracy is not a spectator sport.
—Carl Yaeckel, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 July 2025
Already locked into a weekly broadcast contract with CBS, with a slick marketing campaign behind it, the PBR Team Series is gaining popularity as a spectator sport.
—Alex Lowe, Kansas City Star, 9 July 2025
Democracy cannot be a spectator sport, especially at this time.
—Angus King, Time, 18 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Spectator sport.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spectator%20sport. Accessed 29 Nov. 2025.
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