sporty

adjective \ ˈspȯr-tē \

|Updated on: 6 Jun 2018

Definition of sporty

sportier; sportiest

1 : of, relating to, or typical of sports, sportsmen, sportswomen, or sportswear

2 : resembling a sports car in styling or performance

a sporty sedan

—

sportily

play \ˈspȯr-tə-lē\ adverb

—

sportiness

play \ˈspȯr-tē-nəs\ noun

See sporty defined for English-language learners

See sporty defined for kids

Recent Examples of sporty from the Web

The ride quality has never been better damped for the possibility of sporty driving.

— mark maynard, sandiegouniontribune.com, "2018 Honda Accord 2.0T: Near perfect, in an imperfect world," 1 June 2018
The front-drive sedan’s sporty cosmetics are backed up by sporting hardware.

— al haas, Philly.com, "Volkswagen offers a roomy 2018 Passat GT that's fun to play with," 31 May 2018
Dolce & Gabbana experimented with everything from zebra to tiger, while newcomer Miaou introduced sportier options in cheetah and snake.

— alice bell, Vogue, "Into the Wild! 5 Chic Ways to Pull Off Head-to-Toe Animal Print," 31 May 2018
Though sportier than Brooks England’s all-leather saddles like the iconic B17, the Cambium still features the company’s classic British good looks and durability.

— the editors, Outside Online, "Our Favorite Deals at REI’s Anniversary Sale," 18 May 2018
Following the Buick Regal TourX, The Sportbrake is the second car this year that should remind drivers a wagon can deliver most of the benefits of an SUV, with better fuel economy, sporty looks and handling.

— mark phelan, Detroit Free Press, "Review: 2018 Jaguar Sportbrake makes station wagons cool again," 19 Apr. 2018
This is where a sporty character meets the spirit of adventure: modern, dynamic lines, a cool off-road look and the elevated seating position with good all-round visibility typical of an SUV.

— lindsay peyton, Houston Chronicle, "A Rosenberg man and his off-road rock crawler rescue flooded families," 18 May 2018
Logomania takes a sporty turn with Louis Vuitton’s Bumbag.

— sari anne tuschman, latimes.com, "The fanny pack — yes, the fanny pack — is in the midst of a major comeback," 18 May 2018
The white-haired televangelist was dressed in a sporty blue hoodie and a white baseball cap with a cross design.

— USA TODAY, "Televangelist/condo salesman Jim Bakker: Ozarks are safest place to live during the apocalypse," 11 May 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'sporty.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of sporty

1889

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

NEW! Time Traveler

SPORTY Defined for English Language Learners

sporty

adjective

Definition of sporty for English Language Learners

of clothing : attractive and suitable for informal wear
of a car : having the qualities or appearance of a sports car
: liking sports : active in and good at sports

Learn More about sporty

See words that rhyme with sporty Spanish Central: Translation of sporty Nglish: Translation of sporty for Spanish speakers

Seen and Heard

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

show

sporty

Definition of sporty

sportily

sportiness

Recent Examples of sporty from the Web

First Known Use of sporty

SPORTY Defined for English Language Learners

sporty

Definition of sporty for English Language Learners

Learn More about sporty

Seen and Heard

WORD OF THE DAY

jabberwocky

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Test Your Vocabulary

Words at Play

Words We're Watching: 'B side'

Can You Use 'Comprised of'?

Words We're Watching: '-iversary'

'Franchise': Profit from Freedom

Ask the Editors

Ghost Word

2017 Word of the Year: Behind the Scenes

Literally

Is Singular 'They' a Better Choice?

Word Games

Name More Food!

Yearbook Superlatives Quiz

How Strong Is Your Vocabulary?

SCRABBLE® Sprint

Words We're Watching: 'B side'

Trending: DOJ Describes Comey as 'Insubordinate'

Name More Food!

9 Words for Transnational Currencies

Ghost Word

sporty

Definition of sporty

sportily

sportiness

Recent Examples of sporty from the Web

First Known Use of sporty

SPORTY Defined for English Language Learners

sporty

Definition of sporty for English Language Learners

Learn More about sporty

Seen and Heard

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games

Words We're Watching: 'B side'

Trending: DOJ Describes Comey as 'Insubordinate'

Name More Food!

9 Words for Transnational Currencies

Ghost Word