What does sport mean?
Sport most commonly means an organized activity or competition conducted under agreed rules, especially one involving physical skill, exertion, or strategy. It may refer to the whole field of such competitions, as in “the world of sport,” or to a particular form, such as tennis or athletics. In broader and older usage, sport also means amusement, diversion, or playful teasing. As a verb, it means to engage in sport and, in literary or playful contexts, to wear or display something distinctive. Modern usage generally favors “play” or “take part in a sport” for the activity and “play” for recreational competition. The noun is usually countable when naming a particular activity or field of play, though broad references to athletic activity can be uncountable. Sport carries positive connotations of skill, competition, fitness, and fair play, although “blood sport” or “sport” in phrases about cruel amusement can suggest brutality or mockery. Its long history helps explain why the word now combines athletic competition with the older sense of diversion.
An organized activity or competition conducted under agreed rules, especially one involving physical skill, exertion, or strategy. The word can also denote a particular form of athletic activity or, in older usage, amusement or diversion.
"Boxing is a demanding sport that requires both physical conditioning and strategic skill."
Usually countable when naming a particular activity or field of competition, though broad references to athletic activity can be uncountable.
To engage in sport or athletic activity. In literary or playful usage, it can also mean to amuse oneself or to wear or display something distinctive.
"The two friends sported on the beach until the weather forced them indoors."
The participation sense is relatively formal compared with “play.” The meanings “amuse oneself” and “display or wear something” are chiefly literary, archaic, or playful.
Use the plural for different forms or fields of athletic activity, as in “team sports,” and for general references to athletic competition.
"Football and swimming are among the most popular sports in the region."
The word “sport” originally meant amusement or diversion; its now-dominant sense of organized athletics is a later development of that broader idea.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of sport
English borrowed the word in the Middle English period from Old French sport, meaning amusement or diversion. Old French sport came from Latin sportare, a verb associated with carrying away and with Latin disportare, the source of English disport. Sport and disport therefore share a close Latin source, while export, import, and transport share the ultimate Latin root portare. In English, the word’s athletic sense developed from its earlier and broader meaning of amusement or pastime.
Related word forms
How sport is actually used
Sport is usually countable when naming a particular activity or field of competition, although broad references to athletic activity can be uncountable. In everyday British and American English, “play” is often more natural than the verb “sport” for taking part in a game. The sense meaning amusement or teasing is literary or archaic, while the transitive sense meaning to wear or display something is established but often dated or deliberately playful.
Easily confused with sport
A sport is a form of competition or athletic activity, whereas a spurt is a brief, sudden burst of energy or activity.
A sport is an organized activity or competition, while a spot is a particular place, position, or small mark.