sports

Noun

sport (countable and uncountable, plural sports)

1. Any activity that uses physical exertion or skills competitively under a set of rules that is not based on aesthetics.
   • Basketball is her favorite sport, and she also enjoys various other sports as well.
2. (countable) A person who exhibits either good or bad sportsmanship.
   • Jen may have won, but she was sure a poor sport; she laughed at the loser.
3. (countable) Somebody who behaves or reacts in an admirably good-natured manner, e.g. to being teased or to losing a game; a good sport.
   • You're such a sport! You never get upset when we tease you.
4. (archaic) Something fun, pastime; amusement.
   • Think it but a minute spent in sport.1591 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt, […]”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and...

   Synonyms:

   amusement, avocation, diversion, divertisement, fancy, hobby, kill-time, pastime, pursuit

5. (archaic) Mockery, making fun; derision.
   • Why then make ſport at me, then let me be your ieſtc. 1597 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wiues of Windsor”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward]...
6. (countable) A toy; a plaything; an object of mockery.
   • flitting leaves, the sport of every wind1697, Virgil, “The Sixth Book of the Æneis”, in John Dryden, transl., The Works of Virgil: Containing His Pastorals, Georgics, and Æneis. […], London: […] Jacob Tonson, […], →OCLC

See all 22 meanings of sport