sportsman

noun

sports·​man ˈspȯrts-mən 

1

: a person who engages in sports (such as hunting or fishing)

2

: a person who shows sportsmanship

sportsmanlike

ˈspȯrts-mən-ˌlīk 

adjective

sportsmanly

ˈspȯrts-mən-lē 

adjective

Examples of sportsman in a Sentence

He was a keen sportsman all his life.

Recent Examples on the Web

Tennessee legislators passed a law earlier this year that will allow sportsmen to hunt whitetail deer using bait, only on private land. —Austin Hornbostel, Nashville Tennessean, 21 Oct. 2025

For any sportsman living in the Eastern half of the nation, one of the great things about a hunt in the West, in my opinion, is the chance to sample the matchless friendliness and hospital ity of the people there. —Robert Merchant, Outdoor Life, 1 Oct. 2025

Ages 16-64: Annual hunting license and statewide permit (both included in resident sportsman's license). —Marina Johnson, Louisville Courier Journal, 22 Sep. 2025

Dressing as a true-blue, off-duty, yet insanely famous, American sportsman. —Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1651, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for sportsman

• sportsmen

Kids Definition

sportsman

noun

sports·​man ˈspō(ə)rt-smən 

ˈspȯ(ə)rt-

1

: a person who engages in or is interested in sports and especially outdoor sports

2

: sport entry 2 sense 3

sportsmanlike

-ˌlīk 

adjective

sportsmanly

-lē 

adjective