What does sportswoman mean?
A sportswoman is a woman who participates in a sport, especially as a professional or competitive athlete. The term is used in British and American English and can refer to competitors in individual or team sports, from runners and swimmers to footballers and tennis players. It is often used in journalism and biographical writing to identify a woman’s sporting achievement, career, or reputation. Although the word makes the athlete’s gender explicit, “athlete” or “player” may be more natural in contexts where the person’s sex is not relevant. Historically, forms such as “sportsman” were sometimes used for athletes of any gender, but “sportswoman” provides a specific and increasingly established female equivalent.
nounA woman who plays a sport, especially as a professional or competitive athlete.
- A woman who plays a sport, especially professionally or as a competitive athlete.
"The sportswoman dedicated herself to training for the Olympic marathon."
"She became a celebrated sportswoman after winning three national championships."
"The newspaper profiled the young sportswoman and her dedication to training."
The standard plural is “sportswomen.”
"Several sportswomen from the team were selected for the national squad."
“Sportswoman” pairs the language of sport with the gendered form of “woman,” making it a clear and specific title for a female athlete.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sportswoman come from?
The word “sportswoman” is formed by combining “sport” with the gendered form “woman.” It belongs to a wider English vocabulary that developed “sportsman” and “sportsmanship” in the 19th century. The component “sport” ultimately comes through Old French from Latin sporta, meaning hunting or amusement. The gendered form reflects the historical tendency to use “man” for a generic person and later to develop explicit terminology for women athletes.
How sportswoman is actually used
The term is widely used in British and American English. In modern usage, “athlete” or “player” may be preferred when the relevant sport and competitive status make the gender-specific term unnecessary.
Easily confused with sportswoman
“Sportswoman” refers specifically to a woman who plays a sport, while “sportsman” traditionally refers specifically to a man and may also have the older, broader meaning of a person who takes part in sport.