SINCE 1828

An Encyclopædia Britannica Company

sportive

adjective sport·ive \ ˈspȯr-tiv \

Definition of sportive

1 a :frolicsome, playful

b :ardent, wanton

2 :of or relating to sports and especially field sports

—

sportively

adverb

—

sportiveness

noun

See sportive defined for kids

Examples of sportive in a Sentence

a sportive pastor who began every sermon with a joke

First Known Use of sportive

1593

sportive Synonyms

Synonyms

antic, coltish, elfish, fay, frisky, frolicsome, larky, rollicking, sportful, playful

Antonyms

earnest, serious-minded, sober, sobersided

Related Words

coy, kittenish; gay, happy, lighthearted, whimsical; energetic, frolic, jocund, lively, merry, spirited, sprightly, spunky, vivacious; devilish, impish, knavish, mischievous, pixie (also pixy), rascally, roguish; amusing, diverting, enjoyable, entertaining, fun, pleasurable; dabbling, frivolous, goofy, silly, trifling; delightful, pleasant, pleasing; jesting, jocose, jocular, joking, prankish, teasing

Near Antonyms

dutiful, responsible; grave, grim, serious, solemn, somber (or sombre), stern, stolid; no-nonsense, priggish, starchy, stuffy; decorous, formal, proper, sedate, staid; guarded, inhibited, restrained

Learn More about sportive

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for sportive

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up sportive? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show

WORD OF THE DAY

chary

play

cautious about doing something

BROWSE DICTIONARY

sporting page

sporting powder

sportive

sportive lemur

sport jacket

Test Your Vocabulary

Forms of Government Quiz

A gerontocracy is rule by:

How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

TAKE THE QUIZ

Word Winder's CrossWinder

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Words at Play

alt-59e50f5a357b4

'Spox' May Go On The Record

From newsroom lingo to the mainstream

alt-59e506c5c02ae

C'mon, Of Course 'Myriad' Is a Noun

For a myriad of reasons

alt-59e12097b419d

'Gamut' and 'Gambit' (and 'Gauntlet' Too)

Know when to use (or run) each.

17 English Words that Come From Japanese

Some borrowed words don't get returned

Ask the Editors

video-title-words-of-the-year-1066

Words of the Year: 1066

Or, Why Pig Meat is Called 'Pork' and Cow Meat is Called 'Beef'

How Often Is 'Biweekly'?

Don't get us started on 'bimonthly'

video-irregardless-grammar-peeve-blend-of-the-synonyms-irrespective-and-regardless

Irregardless

It is in fact a real word (but that doesn't mean you should use it).

video-moose-goose-weird-plurals

Weird Plurals

One goose, two geese. One moose, two... moose. What's up with that?

Word Games

knupfer-painting-solon-before-croesus

Forms of Government Quiz

Name that government! Or something like that.

Take the quiz

rembrandt-painting-a-young-scholar-and-his-tutor

Original Meanings Quiz

A quiz for the pedantic and those annoyed by them!

Take the quiz

How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

Test your vocabulary with our 10-question quiz!

Take the quiz

Word Winder's CrossWinder

Word Winder's CrossWinder

A game of winding words.

Play the game

Examples: sportive in a Sentence