What does game mean?
A game is a structured activity, usually undertaken for enjoyment or competition, that is governed by rules and often involves skill, strategy, or luck. From board games and card games to football and video games, the term covers an enormous range of human play, and by extension it can describe a single match ("they won the first game"), a whole sphere of competitive activity ("the political game"), or wild animals hunted for food and sport. The word carries connotations of both leisure and contest: playing a game implies voluntary engagement within agreed limits, which is why phrases like "fair game" and "play the game" have entered everyday speech as metaphors for legitimate targets and honest conduct. Few English words are so versatile, moving effortlessly from childhood amusement to professional sport to metaphorical strategy.
A form of play or sport with rules, played for amusement, competition, or stakes.
"Monopoly remains one of the best-selling board games in the world."
Also used of a single match or round within a larger contest.
Wild animals hunted for food or sport, or their flesh eaten as food.
"The restaurant specializes in game such as pheasant and venison."
Uncountable in this sense.
Bold, spirited, and willing to try something difficult or uncertain.
"She was game to attempt the summit despite the forecast."
Informal register; often used of people showing pluck.
To play video games, especially competitively or extensively.
"He spends his evenings gaming online with friends."
Modern usage tied to gaming culture.
Standard plural; uncountable when referring to hunted animals as a category.
"The Olympic Games bring together athletes from around the world."
In Old English, "gamen" didn't mean a contest at all — it meant fun itself; only over centuries did the word narrow into the rule-bound competitions we know today.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of game
The word "game" descends from the Old English "gamen", meaning joy, fun, or amusement, which in turn comes from a common Germanic root also reflected in Old High German "gaman". Originally the word denoted merriment and sport in general rather than a codified contest, and its sense gradually narrowed toward organized play and competition. The hunting sense of "game" developed later, from medieval English, referring to animals pursued as quarry.
Related word forms
How game is actually used
"Game" spans registers comfortably, appearing in casual conversation and formal writing alike. As an adjective it means brave or willing ("a game attempt"), and in slang "game on" signals readiness to compete. In hunting contexts, "game" is an uncountable collective noun.
Easily confused with game
A gambit is a specific calculated sacrifice or opening move (especially in chess), whereas a game is the complete contest or activity itself.