sportsmanship
noun
sports·man·ship
ˈspȯrts-mən-ˌship 
: conduct (such as fairness, respect for one's opponent, and graciousness in winning or losing) becoming to one participating in a sport
Examples of sportsmanship in a Sentence
He's a great player who's also admired for his sportsmanship.
Recent Examples on the Web
Following the team’s win, Argentina coach Lionel Scaloni spoke of Messi’s work ethic and sportsmanship after his injury.
—
Danielle Jennings, Peoplemag, 15 July 2024
Cold-eyed men in Moscow, Beijing, Tehran and Pyongyang might not believe that good sportsmanship requires international crises to unfold between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Eastern time, Biden’s reported (by some of his people) interval of adequate alertness.
—George F. Will, Washington Post, 8 July 2024
Insane close calls, historic wins and great sportsmanship — these are the Olympic moments that were was good as gold
Comments
The world's best athletes will arrive in Paris on July 26 to compete for a medal at the 2024 Olympic Games.
—Tanisha Bhat, Peoplemag, 1 July 2024
The award is given annually to the NHL player who best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.
—Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 30 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for sportsmanship 
Danielle Jennings, Peoplemag, 15 July 2024
Cold-eyed men in Moscow, Beijing, Tehran and Pyongyang might not believe that good sportsmanship requires international crises to unfold between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Eastern time, Biden’s reported (by some of his people) interval of adequate alertness.
—George F. Will, Washington Post, 8 July 2024
Insane close calls, historic wins and great sportsmanship — these are the Olympic moments that were was good as gold
Comments
The world's best athletes will arrive in Paris on July 26 to compete for a medal at the 2024 Olympic Games.
—Tanisha Bhat, Peoplemag, 1 July 2024
The award is given annually to the NHL player who best exemplifies perseverance, sportsmanship, and dedication to hockey.
—Curtis Pashelka, The Mercury News, 30 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for sportsmanship
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'sportsmanship.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near sportsmanship
Cite this Entry
“Sportsmanship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sportsmanship. Accessed 26 Jul. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
sportsmanship
noun
sports·man·ship
ˈspō(ə)rt-smən-ˌship
ˈspȯ(ə)rt-
: fair play, respect for opponents, and gracious behavior in winning or losing
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