sportsman

noun

sports·​man ˈspȯrts-mən How to pronounce sportsman (audio)
1
: a person who engages in sports (such as hunting or fishing)
2
: a person who shows sportsmanship
sportsmanlike adjective
sportsmanly adjective

Examples of sportsman in a Sentence

He was a keen sportsman all his life.
Recent Examples on the Web
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.
Rhode Island’s lone golf resort is a favorite of New Englanders of every handicap; equestrian training stables and an indoor shooting range beckon a variety of sportsmen in the summer as well. Paula Conway, Forbes.com, 26 Aug. 2025 The coming years could pose a rare opportunity for sportsmen, conservationists–and also the agricultural community— to find common ground, building a future where humane wildlife stewardship is the norm. Wendy Keefover, Denver Post, 26 Aug. 2025 The sportsman's cause of death was ruled as drowning during an inquest at Milton Keynes Coroners Court in England on Wednesday, July 23. Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 24 July 2025 Unusually for a Victorian sportsman, Wingfield marketed his game equally to men and women, and the fad spread rapidly through the gardens of England and beyond. Sam Knight, New Yorker, 12 July 2025 See All Example Sentences for sportsman

Word History

First Known Use

1651, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of sportsman was in 1651

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Sportsman.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sportsman. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

sportsman

noun
sports·​man ˈspō(ə)rt-smən How to pronounce sportsman (audio)
ˈspȯ(ə)rt-
1
: a person who engages in or is interested in sports and especially outdoor sports
2
sportsmanlike adjective
sportsmanly adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on sportsman

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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