What does sportswomen mean?
Sportswomen is the plural form of sportswoman and refers to women who take part in sports, particularly as competitors or athletes. The word may cover athletes in individual and team events, from amateur participants to elite professionals and Olympians. It became increasingly common as women gained broader access to organized sport and as language began to replace the generic masculine “sportsman” with gender-specific terminology. In current usage, sportswomen is natural and unremarkable in British and American English, although some speakers still use it chiefly when emphasizing women’s participation or achievement. The related form sportswoman names a single female athlete, while sportswomen names multiple female athletes. Together with terms such as athlete and competitor, sportswomen provides a clear way to refer to female participants in sporting activities without implying that they occupy a separate or inferior sphere of sport.
plural nounWomen who participate in or compete in sports, especially as athletes.
- Women who participate in or compete in sports, especially as athletes.
"The tournament celebrated the achievements of athletes from around the world, including many outstanding sportswomen."
"The club provides specialist training for young sportswomen."
"Her dedication as a sportswoman earned her a place on the national team."
The standard plural of sportswoman.
"The program welcomes sportswomen from every competitive level."
One letter makes all the difference: sportswoman names one competitor, while sportswomen refers to a whole team of them.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does sportswomen come from?
The word is an English compound of sport and woman, with the plural formed by changing the singular compound sportswoman into sportswomen. Sport entered English through Anglo-French disport, ultimately derived from Latin disportare, while woman comes from Old English wimmen. Earlier English often used the generic masculine “sportsman” for participants of any sex, but separate terminology for female athletes became established as women’s participation in organized sport increased.
Related word forms
How sportswomen is actually used
The term is widely used in British and American English. It usually emphasizes participation or competitive achievement, although it can also refer to women active in recreational sports.
Easily confused with sportswomen
Sportswoman is the singular form, while sportswomen is the standard plural.