sport

SPORT/spɔɹt/UKSPAWT/spɔːt/

Pluralsports

Verbsports, sporting, sported

17 meanings of sport

Practice

1
physical gamenouncountable or uncountable
An activity where people use their bodies and skills, often competing against others under set rules.
Like a race with clear rules that decides who wins.
Soccer is a sport that millions of kids play.
He trains hard for his favorite sport every week.
UsageSay play a sport. For sport in general, Americans usually say sports: “I like sports.”
Similargame, athletics
2
displayverbtransitive
To show off something you have, like a new look or item.
Like wearing something new so everyone can see it.
Many fans sport team colors on game day.
He sported a thick mustache for the film.
UsageOften used for clothes, hair or looks: sport a beard.
Similarboast, feature, display, wear, flaunt
Note
3
nouncountable
A person thought of by how well they take losing or jokes, as in 'a good sport' or 'a bad sport.'
Like someone who smiles instead of getting angry when teased.
Grandpa was a sport and laughed when we teased him about his hat.
He's such a sport about losing at cards.
UsageWithout good or bad, a sport is praise. You can be a good sport about losing.

Less common meanings

4
nouncolloquialcountable or uncountable
A friendly word used when talking to someone, especially a boy or a man, as in 'Thanks, sport.'
Like calling a friend 'buddy' or 'pal'.
Thanks for the help, sport, I owe you one.
Hey sport, want to grab lunch later?
UsageUsed without a or the when speaking directly to someone.
Similarbuddy, pal, mate, champ
Note
5
verbintransitive
To play happily and freely just for fun.
Like puppies running and tumbling just for fun.
Dolphins sported in the waves beside our boat.
Dolphins sport in the waves near the shore.
Similarfrolic, play, romp, cavort, gambol
6
toy withverbintransitive
To make fun of someone or treat them in a teasing way.
Like a cat playing with a mouse before letting it go.
She feared he would sport with her heart.
He sported with her feelings and then walked away.
UsageUse with: he sported with her feelings.
Similartoy, trifle, play
Note
7
nouncountable or uncountable
Fun. Something done just for enjoyment or as a joke, not for a serious reason.
Like playing a game just because it makes you happy.
We played cards just for sport on the long winter nights.
Think it but a minute spent in sport.
1591, William Shakespeare, “The Second Part of Henry the Sixt,”Here, sport means fun or play, something done for enjoyment, not seriously.
UsageOften in for sport: they fish for sport, not for food.
Similarfun, amusement, pleasure, recreation, diversion
Note
8
mutantnouncountable
A plant or animal that has an unusual feature not normally seen in others of its kind.
Like one branch on an apple tree suddenly growing a different kind of fruit than the rest.
The gardener found a strange sport with white leaves on the green bush.
This rose is a sport that grew differently from all the others.
Similarmutation, mutant, variant
Note
9
change (plant)verbintransitive
To suddenly grow a part that looks very different from the rest of the plant or animal.
Like a family of brown dogs suddenly having one white puppy unlike the rest.
Sometimes a rose bush will sport, growing one branch with flowers of a new color.
The plant sported last spring, producing leaves no one had seen before.
Similarmutate
Note
10
nounslangcountable
A man who lives for fun, betting and gambling, often spending time with bad company.
Note
11
mockerynounarchaiccountable or uncountable
The act of making fun of someone in an unkind way.
Like laughing at someone to make them feel small.
The other boys made sport of his torn coat.
Why then make ſport at me, then let me be your ieſt
c. 1597, William Shakespeare, “The Merry Wiues of Windsor”Here, sport means mockery, so make fun of me.
UsageOld phrase: make sport of someone. Today people say make fun of.
Note
12
playthingnouncountable
A toy or plaything, or a person that others make fun of.
Like a toy that bigger kids grab and toss around for fun.
He became the sport of the older boys, pushed around for their fun.
In the storm, the small boat became the sport of the waves.
UsageOften the sport of something: the sport of the wind.
Similarplaything, toy, laughingstock, butt
Note
13
nounobsoleteuncountable
Light, playful love or flirting between two people.
Note
14
verbarchaictransitive
To shut a door, especially to show you do not want visitors.
There he locked it up in a drawer, sported the doors of both sets of rooms, and retired to bed.
1904, M. R. James, The MezzotintHere, sported means shut, closing the doors so no one would visit.
Note
15
nounobsolete
Playing games like racing or hunting to win money.
16
verbarchaic
To show or act out something through play or pretend.
Now sporting on thy lyre the loves of youth.
1693, Decimus Junius Juvenalis, John Dryden
17
verbarchaic
To take part in hunting, fishing, or horse racing, and to enjoy betting on races.

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of sport apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origin

A shortened form of "disport." It came from Old French "desporter," meaning to amuse or divert, from Latin "portare" (to carry).

Checked 1 Nov 2026 · 4 facts

Sport is a shortened form of disport. en.wiktionary.org
Sport ultimately derives from Old French desporter. en.wiktionary.org
Desporter meant to amuse or divert. en.wiktionary.org
The etymology ultimately includes Latin portare, meaning to carry. en.wiktionary.org