What does sportsmanship mean?
Sportsmanship is the practice of competing fairly, respecting the rules, and treating opponents, officials, and audiences with courtesy. It is especially associated with how a person behaves during and after a sporting contest, whether winning or losing. Graceful acceptance of defeat, honesty about errors, and concern for others are all recognized as expressions of sportsmanship. The term can also be applied more broadly to any competitive activity, including academic, professional, or public contests. Its positive connotation makes it useful when praising fairness and ethical conduct, although it may also imply criticism of conduct that is needlessly aggressive, dishonest, or discourteous. Although the word clearly belongs to the world of sport, its central idea—competing with respect and integrity—is relevant far beyond athletics.
nounThe conduct of someone who plays a sport fairly, respects the rules and opponents, and behaves courteously, especially when winning or losing. It also denotes the broader principle of fair play and good ethical behavior in competitive activity.
- Fair, respectful, and ethical behavior in a sport or competitive activity, especially toward opponents, officials, and the rules.
- The broader principle that competition should be conducted honestly, courteously, and according to accepted rules.
"Her generosity in victory was a shining example of sportsmanship."
"The players treated the officials with courtesy and showed genuine sportsmanship throughout the match."
"Apologizing after a disputed decision was a sensible act of sportsmanship."
Plural forms are grammatically possible but uncommon, since the word usually names a general quality rather than a countable instance.
"Their sportsmanship inspired younger players."
The best sportsmanship can appear after the final whistle: accepting defeat graciously can matter more than winning the contest.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of sportsmanship
Sportsmanship was formed in the 19th century from sport, a word borrowed from Old French, together with the suffix -manship, which forms nouns denoting quality, skill, or conduct. The related sportsman had already been used for a person who participated in sport or competed fairly. The later noun sportsmanship developed from that older vocabulary to name the general standard of fair and courteous behavior in competition.
How sportsmanship is actually used
The word is most often used in a positive moral or social sense. It can describe conduct in organized sport or, more broadly, respectful and fair behavior in any competitive situation.
Easily confused with sportsmanship
Sportsmanship is the noun naming a standard of conduct, while sportsmanlike is an adjective describing a person or action that displays fairness, courtesy, and respect.