sport

1 of 3

verb

ˈspȯrt 

sported; sporting; sports

intransitive verb

1

a

: to amuse oneself : frolic

lambs sporting in the meadow

b

: to engage in a sport

2

a

: to mock or ridicule something

b

: to speak or act in jest : trifle

3

[sport entry 2] : to deviate or vary abruptly from type (as by bud variation) : mutate

transitive verb

1

: to display or wear usually ostentatiously : boast

sporting expensive new shoes

2

[sport entry 2] : to put forth as a sport or bud variation

sport

2 of 3

noun

1

a

: a source of diversion : recreation

b

: sexual play

c(1)

: physical activity engaged in for pleasure

(2)

: a particular activity (such as an athletic game) so engaged in

2

a

: pleasantry, jest

b

: often mean-spirited jesting : mockery, derision

3

a

: something tossed or driven about in or as if in play

b

: laughingstock

4

a

: sportsman

b

: a person considered with respect to living up to the ideals of sportsmanship

a good sport

a poor sport

c

: a companionable person

5

: an individual exhibiting a sudden deviation from type beyond the normal limits of individual variation usually as a result of mutation especially of somatic tissue

sport

3 of 3

adjective

variants or sports

: of, relating to, or suitable for sports

especially : styled in a manner suitable for casual or informal wear

sport coats

Synonyms of sport

Verb

• play

Noun

• recreation
• relaxation
• fun
• entertainment
• amusement
• enjoyment

Choose the Right Synonym for sport

fun, jest, sport, game, play mean action or speech that provides amusement or arouses laughter.

fun usually implies laughter or gaiety but may imply merely a lack of serious or ulterior purpose.

played cards just for fun

jest implies lack of earnestness and may suggest a hoaxing or teasing.

hurt by remarks said only in jest

sport applies especially to the arousing of laughter against someone.

teasing begun in sport led to anger

game is close to sport, and often stresses mischievous or malicious fun.

made game of their poor relations

play stresses the opposition to earnest without implying any malice or mischief.

pretended to strangle his brother in play

Examples of sport in a Sentence

Verb

She showed up at the party sporting a bright red hat.

from sailing to snorkeling, each day we sported at a different activity offered by the beach resort

Noun

She likes to play sport.

Ice-skating with friends is my favorite sport.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Elsewhere is an elegant formal dining room, a media room equipped with a wet bar, and a sleek kitchen sporting a Lacanche range, an eat-in island, and a butler’s pantry. —Wendy Bowman, Robb Report, 9 June 2026

The three-minute set kicked off as the jumbotron focused on a group of dancers sporting orange Knicks jersey dresses and revealed the rapper to be sitting courtside behind them. —Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 9 June 2026

Noun

The month of May brought our Orange County Artist of the Year, Memorial Day, the Ducks making the playoffs as well as spring high school sports. —Michele Cardon, Oc Register, 9 June 2026

The resort is debuting its new Coral Cay Adventure Park in summer 2026, complete with waterslides, splash pad, sports lawn, and arcade. —Allison Tibaldi, USA Today, 9 June 2026

Adjective

Taylor said soccer was his first love as a multi-sport athlete growing up in the Inland Empire. —Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 June 2026

Well, she is set to continue playing flag football at Florida Gateway College in Lake City, but hopes to get back to being a multi-sport athlete. —Johnny Gorches, The Orlando Sentinel, 5 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, to divert, disport, short for disporten

First Known Use

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1a

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adjective

circa 1586, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing sport

• blood sport
• board sport
• e-sport
• for sport
• good sport
• in sport
• make sport of
• poor/bad sport
• spectator sport
• sport coat
• sport fish
• sport jacket
• sport shirt
• sport-ute
• sport-utility
• sport-utility vehicle
• team sport
• the sport of kings
• winter sport

Rhymes for sport

• bort
• corte
• court
• dort
• fort
• mort
• norte
• ort
• port
• porte
• quart
• short

Kids Definition

sport

1 of 3 verb

ˈspō(ə)rt 

ˈspȯ(ə)rt

1

: to amuse oneself : frolic

2

: to speak or act in fun

3

: show off sense 1

sport

2 of 3 noun

1

a

: pastime, recreation

b

: physical activity (as hunting, running, or an athletic game) engaged in for pleasure

2

a

: jest sense 2

b

: fun entry 1 sense 3

make sport of someone

3

: a person who shows good sportsmanship

4

: an individual that shows a sudden major change from the normal type usually as a result of a mutation

a yellow sport among the red apples

sport

3 of 3 adjective

variants or sports

: of, relating to, or suitable for sports

sports equipment

also : made in a style suitable for casual or informal wear

a sport coat

Medical Definition

sport

noun

ˈspō(ə)rt, ˈspȯ(ə)rt 

: an individual exhibiting a sudden deviation from type beyond the normal limits of individual variation usually as a result of mutation especially of somatic tissue