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
This act of sportsmanship by Nicklaus was both controversial and applauded.
—
Tim Corlett, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
The league changed its policy this offseason to help deter schools from showing poor sportsmanship.
—Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
On the opening night of the 2025 NFL season, the Philadelphia Eagles met the Dallas Cowboys in a matchup that was overshadowed by several incidents that violated the core tenets of sportsmanship.
—Ron Mix, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Sep. 2025
Carter’s actions overshadowed the Eagles’ successful start to their title defense and were the main talking point as well how the league might respond after an off-season where improved sportsmanship was a league priority.
—Kevin Dotson, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sportsmanship
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Tim Corlett, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
The league changed its policy this offseason to help deter schools from showing poor sportsmanship.
—Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
On the opening night of the 2025 NFL season, the Philadelphia Eagles met the Dallas Cowboys in a matchup that was overshadowed by several incidents that violated the core tenets of sportsmanship.
—Ron Mix, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Sep. 2025
Carter’s actions overshadowed the Eagles’ successful start to their title defense and were the main talking point as well how the league might respond after an off-season where improved sportsmanship was a league priority.
—Kevin Dotson, CNN Money, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sportsmanship
Cite this Entry
“Sportsmanship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sportsmanship. Accessed 12 Sep. 2025.
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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share