sport

verb \ ˈspȯrt \

Updated on: 20 Apr 2018

intransitive verb

1 a : to amuse oneself : frolic

lambs sporting in the meadow

b : to engage in a sport

2 a : to mock or ridicule something

b : to speak or act in jest : trifle

[²sport]

: to deviate or vary abruptly from type (as by bud variation) : mutate

transitive verb

1 : to display or wear usually ostentatiously : boast

sporting expensive new shoes

[²sport]

: to put forth as a sport or bud variation

See sport defined for English-language learners

See sport defined for kids

Examples of sport in a Sentence

She showed up at the party sporting a bright red hat.
from sailing to snorkeling, each day we sported at a different activity offered by the beach resort

Recent Examples of sport from the Web

Newsroom staff members could moonlight in areas that would now be considered a conflict of interest, earning extra money writing publicity releases for politicians, theaters, sporting events and other business interests.

— roger showley, sandiegouniontribune.com, ""A Faithful Mirror": The San Diego Union-Tribune's first 150 years," 15 Apr. 2018
Pruitt has come under scrutiny for taking security on family vacations, frequent trips home to Oklahoma, and to sporting events.

— sara ganim, CNN, "Democratic lawmaker letter casts doubt on Pruitt security needs," 10 Apr. 2018
But one man’s discomfort is a Reddit user’s happiness, so the whole thing went viral and CWK turned into this whole thing, rekindling the debate about whether television networks should show kids crying during sporting events.

— chris chase, For The Win, "The 15 best characters, memes and bawling adults from NCAA tournament history," 2 Apr. 2018
As the New York Times points out, the security measure is reminiscent of similar regulations at sporting events and airports.

— anne branigin, The Root, "Amid Recent Security Scares, Stoneman Douglas High School Requires Students to Wear Clear Backpacks," 22 Mar. 2018
To become law, the new way of paying for sporting events must first pass out of an Ohio House committee, then pass the full House and Senate.

— chrissie thompson, Cincinnati.com, "FIFA World Cup: FC Cincinnati, Reds lobby for state tax money to help Cincinnati land big events.," 20 Mar. 2018
Case in point: mother Kim Kardashian West's latest Instagram capture, which saw the mini West sporting a set of sleek space buns that rivaled the ears of her in-frame canine cohorts.

— calin van paris, Vogue, "North West Gets Ready for Her Close Up on Instagram," 2 Apr. 2018
The evening featured glitter from head to toe, with models sporting a number of looks that featured everyone's favorite Disney mouse, Mickey.

— lauren rearick, Teen Vogue, "Opening Cermony and Birkenstock Team Up For Glitter Sandals," 1 Apr. 2018
Year before the acclaimed actress landed her starring role on ABC’s Modern Family, the Colombia native worked as a professional model, including sporting itty bitty bikinis for cameras.

— natalie stone, PEOPLE.com, "Miami Heat! Sofia Vergara Is a Blonde Bombshell in '90s Throwback Modeling Shot," 29 Mar. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sport.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of sport

Middle English, to divert, disport, short for disporten

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

See Words from the same year

sport Synonyms

sport

noun

1 a : a source of diversion : recreation

b : sexual play

c (1) : physical activity engaged in for pleasure

(2) : a particular activity (such as an athletic game) so engaged in

2 a : pleasantry, jest

b : often mean-spirited jesting : mockery, derision

3 a : something tossed or driven about in or as if in play

b : laughingstock

4 a : sportsman

b : a person considered with respect to living up to the ideals of sportsmanship

a good sport

a poor sport

c : a companionable person

5 : an individual exhibiting a sudden deviation from type beyond the normal limits of individual variation usually as a result of mutation especially of somatic tissue

See sport defined for English-language learners

Examples of sport in a Sentence

She likes to play sport.
Ice-skating with friends is my favorite sport.

Recent Examples of sport from the Web

Wonder called in a host of famous friends from politics, sports, business, music and entertainment to help him with the video tribute.

— an phung, CNN, "Stevie Wonder joins Twitter and pays tribute to MLK with star-studded video," 4 Apr. 2018
Spectator sport: Ryan Arcidiacono returned after watching alma mater Villanova win its second NCAA title in three seasons Monday night in San Antonio.

— k.c. johnson, chicagotribune.com, "Denzel Valentine to undergo arthroscopic knee surgery and is done for season," 4 Apr. 2018
Because basketball is 100 percent maximum effort 100 percent of the time in sports, especially at your age.

— ira winderman, Sun-Sentinel.com, "ASK IRA: Reader offers open letter to Hassan Whiteside," 3 Apr. 2018
Each day’s session begins with sports, play an active recreation for kids (SPARK).

— jelte kelchtermans, m.d., miamiherald, "Get up and get moving with your kids | Miami Herald," 3 Apr. 2018
In other sports, like basketball for instance, strategic innovations are developed at the NBA level and then trickle down to college and then, eventually, high school.

— steven ruiz, For The Win, "NFL teams need to be like Josh Rosen and ask 'why?' more often," 2 Apr. 2018
If surfing isn’t your sport of choice, there’s no need to fear.

— michaela trimble, Vogue, "Where to Stay in Pichilemu, the Undiscovered Tulum of Chile," 30 Mar. 2018
In 2016–17, revenue for the NCAA, the nonprofit organization that oversees major college sports, exceeded $1 billion for the first time.

— sean gregory, Time, "Don't Let NCAA Hypocrisy Ruin This Amazing March Madness," 29 Mar. 2018
The internet has long served as an estuary for rants — about sports, culture and especially politics.

— michael gordon, charlotteobserver, "When feds came to discuss post about Trump, he cursed them. Now he'll talk to a judge. | Charlotte Observer," 29 Mar. 2018

First Known Use of sport

15th century

sport Synonyms

Synonyms

fun, game, jest, play;

Antonyms

earnest;

Near Antonyms

earnestness, gravity, seriousness, soberness, sobriety, solemnity;

Synonym Discussion of sport

fun, jest, sport, game, play mean action or speech that provides amusement or arouses laughter. fun usually implies laughter or gaiety but may imply merely a lack of serious or ulterior purpose.

- played cards just for fun

jest implies lack of earnestness and may suggest a hoaxing or teasing.

- hurt by remarks said only in jest

sport applies especially to the arousing of laughter against someone.

- teasing begun in sport led to anger

game is close to sport, and often stresses mischievous or malicious fun.

- made game of their poor relations

play stresses the opposition to earnest without implying any malice or mischief.

- pretended to strangle his brother in play

Other General Sports Terms

kegler, mulligan, rappel, turkey

sport

adjective

variants: or sports

: of, relating to, or suitable for sports; especially : styled in a manner suitable for casual or informal wear

sport coats

See sport defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of sport

circa 1586

Other General Sports Terms

kegler, mulligan, rappel, turkey

SPORT Defined for English Language Learners

sport

verb

: to wear (something) in a way that attracts attention
: to play in a happy and lively way

sport

noun

: a contest or game in which people do certain physical activities according to a specific set of rules and compete against each other
: sports in general
: a physical activity (such as hunting, fishing, running, swimming, etc.) that is done for enjoyment

sport

adjective

: done for enjoyment rather than as a job or for food for survival
: participating in an activity (such as hunting or fishing) for enjoyment rather than as a job or for food for survival

SPORT Defined for Kids

sport

noun \ ˈspȯrt \

1 : physical activity (as running or an athletic game) engaged in for pleasure or exercise

Skating is my favorite sport.

2 : a person who shows good sportsmanship

He's a sport and doesn't mind losing.

Don't be a bad sport.

3 : pastime, recreation

4 : ¹fun 3

He made sport of their embarrassment.

sport

verb

sported; sporting

: to wear in a way that attracts attention

He sported new sneakers.

Medical Dictionary

sport

noun \ ˈspō(ə)rt, ˈspȯ(ə)rt \

: an individual exhibiting a sudden deviation from type beyond the normal limits of individual variation usually as a result of mutation especially of somatic tissue