sport

1 of 3

verb

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
b
: often mean-spirited jesting : mockery, derision
3
a
: something tossed or driven about in or as if in play
4
a
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
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
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.
Verb
Kim, who has been seen wearing the bag since 2014, also sported it in July 2023 to a soccer match between Al-Nassr and Paris Saint-Germain in Osaka, Japan. Charmaine Patterson, People.com, 7 Dec. 2024 The dogs sported several colors: black, gold, silver and brown. Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 6 Dec. 2024
Noun
But in a riff that threatens to cast the viewer out of Alexey’s realm, the sportswriter belittles legitimate moral grappling about sports, nationalism and war. Lisa Kennedy, Variety, 8 Dec. 2024 Milian, a high school teacher who helps manage the only student-run radio station on SiriusXM, usually sticks to sports or offers up life advice for students. Rebecca Morin, USA TODAY, 8 Dec. 2024
Adjective
Marissa Meyer Meyer, who was a multi-sport athlete at Fairfield High School, is a finalist for the 2023 Sorensen Award, given annually to the nation's top women's collegiate rugby player. Shelby Dermer, The Enquirer, 6 Apr. 2023 The multi-sport athlete shot 56% from the field and 82% from the free-throw line, and graduates with over 1,000 career points. Brian Haenchen, The Indianapolis Star, 14 Mar. 2023 See all Example Sentences for sport 

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of sport was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near sport

Cite this Entry

“Sport.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sport. Accessed 11 Dec. 2024.

Kids Definition

sport

1 of 3 verb
ˈspō(ə)rt How to pronounce sport (audio)
ˈspȯ(ə)rt
1
: to amuse oneself : frolic
2
: to speak or act in fun
3

sport

2 of 3 noun
1
b
: physical activity (as hunting, running, or an athletic game) engaged in for pleasure
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

: 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

More from Merriam-Webster on sport

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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