sport

1 of 3

verb

ˈspȯrt 

sported; sporting; sports

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

3

[sport entry 2] : 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

2

[sport entry 2] : to put forth as a sport or bud variation

sport

2 of 3

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

sport

3 of 3

adjective

variants or sports

: of, relating to, or suitable for sports

especially : styled in a manner suitable for casual or informal wear

sport coats

Synonyms

Verb

• dally
• disport
• frolic
• play
• recreate
• rollick
• skylark
• toy

Noun

• dalliance
• frolic
• frolicking
• fun
• fun and games
• play
• recreation
• relaxation
• rollicking

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

Examples of sport in a Sentence

Verb

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

Noun

She likes to play sport.

Ice-skating with friends is my favorite sport.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The bag sports a floral jacquard design and a woven strap that is intended to mimic the tightly braided crust of the special pizza. —Jean E. Palmieri, Footwear News, 10 June 2025

One for the romantic in us all, sporting or otherwise. —Jeff Rueter, New York Times, 8 June 2025

Noun

Grand Slam Track has also embraced sports betting through a deal that made Stats Perform its exclusive global data and betting stats partner. —Eric Jackson, Sportico.com, 12 June 2025

Most schools will pay their football teams around $15 million, men’s basketball will receive around $3 million with the final $2 million divided between women’s basketball, baseball and other sports. —Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 June 2025

Adjective

Marissa Meyer Meyer, who was a multi-sport athlete at Fairfield High School, is a finalist for the 2023 Sorensen Award, given annually to the nation's top women's collegiate rugby player. —Shelby Dermer, The Enquirer, 6 Apr. 2023

The multi-sport athlete shot 56% from the field and 82% from the free-throw line, and graduates with over 1,000 career points. —Brian Haenchen, The Indianapolis Star, 14 Mar. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, to divert, disport, short for disporten

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

circa 1586, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing sport

• blood sport
• board sport
• e-sport
• for sport
• good sport
• in sport
• make sport of
• poor/bad sport
• spectator sport
• sport coat
• sport fish
• sport jacket
• sport shirt
• sport ute
• sport utility
• sport utility vehicle
• team sport
• the sport of kings
• winter sport

Rhymes for sport

• bort
• corte
• court
• dort
• fort
• mort
• norte
• ort
• port
• porte
• quart
• short

Kids Definition

sport

1 of 3 verb

ˈspō(ə)rt 

ˈspȯ(ə)rt

1

: to amuse oneself : frolic

2

: to speak or act in fun

3

: show off sense 1

sport

2 of 3 noun

1

a

: pastime, recreation

b

: physical activity (as hunting, running, or an athletic game) engaged in for pleasure

2

a

: jest sense 2

b

: fun entry 1 sense 3

make sport of someone

3

: a person who shows good sportsmanship

4

: an individual that shows a sudden major change from the normal type usually as a result of a mutation

a yellow sport among the red apples

sport

3 of 3 adjective

variants or sports

: of, relating to, or suitable for sports

sports equipment

also : made in a style suitable for casual or informal wear

a sport coat

Medical Definition

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