sport
sport — noun
1. A type of game or physical activity that follows a set of rules and is played fo
A type of game or physical activity that follows a set of rules and is played for enjoyment or as a paid job.
Football is the most popular sport in Brazil.
uncountable usage for a specific sport as a concept
Kwame plays three different sports at his high school.
countable: specific sports named
Hari chose swimming as his sport because it builds strength without hurting his knees.
choose [sport] as + possessive: picking a preferred sport
The coach told the children to pick a sport they truly enjoy.
Diya hopes to turn her love for running into a professional sporting career.
collocation: professional sport
- play a sport
- take up a sport
- professional sport
- team sport
- contact sport
- sport event
Grammar Patterns
[countable] a sport
the sport of [gerund/noun]
Common Mistakes
2. The general activity of doing physical movements and exercises to stay healthy o
The general activity of doing physical movements and exercises to stay healthy or have fun.
The children at Camp Keystone did sport every afternoon, from football to relay races.
uncountable: general physical activity
After Jin's check-up, Dr. Hamza told her she needed more sport in her daily life.
Ari never liked sport at school, but now he goes jogging every morning.
Sport is a required part of the weekly timetable in most British secondary schools.
The park has new equipment that encourages sport and outdoor play.
- do sport
- take part in sport
- sport and recreation
- exercise
broader — includes non-competitive physical activity like walking or stretching
- physical activity
more formal and clinical, used in health contexts
Grammar Patterns
[uncountable] sport as general activity
Usage Note
Uncountable when referring to physical activity in general ('sport is good for you'). Countable when referring to a specific activity with rules ('football is a sport'). In American English, the plural 'sports' is more common for this general sense.
Common Mistakes
3. The fun or light-hearted feeling that comes from doing playful things.
The fun or light-hearted feeling that comes from doing playful things.
The children made sport of the new teacher until she won them over.
older sense: make sport of = mock
Talia dropped the catch, but her teammates were teasing in sport and she laughed it off.
What Sofia thought was a harmless joke in sport hurt Dario's feelings more than she expected.
At the family dinner, what began as sport between Charlotte and Tomás turned into a real argument about politics.
- in sport
- make sport of
Usage Note
This sense is somewhat old-fashioned or literary in modern English. It appears in fixed phrases like 'in sport' (as a joke) and 'make sport of' (to mock).
4. A person who is pleasant, generous, and willing to accept things cheerfully, esp
A person who is pleasant, generous, and willing to accept things cheerfully, especially when losing a game or doing something they did not choose to do.
Yael lost the chess match but smiled and shook hands — she is a real sport.
fixed phrase: be a (real) sport
Be a sport and help me carry these boxes upstairs.
fixed phrase: be a sport = be kind and helpful
Gabriela was a good sport about having to sing in front of the class.
collocation: good sport about something
Cyrus is a bad sport — he always complains when his team loses the game.
Élise knew the hike would be hard, but she was a great sport and kept everyone smiling.
- be a good sport
- be a bad sport
- be a sport about
- good loser
more literal; 'good sport' is broader and more idiomatic
- team player
emphasises cooperation rather than handling defeat
- bad sport
the opposite expression for someone who complains when they lose
Grammar Patterns
be a (good) sport
be a (bad) sport
Usage Note
Typically used in the fixed expressions 'be a sport' or 'be a good sport'. A 'good sport' accepts defeat gracefully; a 'bad sport' complains or behaves poorly when losing. 'Be a sport' can also be a friendly request for help or cooperation.
Common Mistakes
5. A casual, friendly way to address a man or a boy whose name you do not know.
A casual, friendly way to address a man or a boy whose name you do not know.
Hey there, sport, would you like to join us for a game?
fixed phrase: hey sport as greeting
The old man nodded at the boy and said, 'Nice catch, sport!'
Thanks for helping with the groceries, sport — I really appreciate it.
Don't worry about it, sport — everyone misses a shot now and then.
- hey sport
- nice catch sport
Grammar Patterns
used as a form of address
Usage Note
This sense is old-fashioned and has become rare in modern speech. It is mostly used by older speakers or in film dialogue set in the early-to-mid 20th century. Younger speakers would use 'dude', 'buddy', or 'man' instead.
6. An individual organism, such as a plant or animal, that shows a distinct and unu
An individual organism, such as a plant or animal, that shows a distinct and unusual change from the normal form of its species, usually resulting from a genetic mutation.
The white peacock is a rare sport that lacks the usual pigmentation.
biology register: sport = mutant organism
Botanists discovered a sport of the rose bush with unusually large petals.
A natural sport of the apple tree in Adisa's orchard produced a crisp, golden new variety.
This particular sport of the orchid was first recorded by a gardener in 1892.
- genetic sport
- natural sport
- sport variety
Usage Note
This technical term is used by biologists and horticulturists. It is not common in everyday conversation. In genetics, the term 'mutant' is far more frequent than 'sport'.
the sport of kings
idiomHorse racing, considered a prestigious or royal pastime.
Baraka's family has been involved in the sport of kings for three generations, breeding racehorses in Kentucky.
Many people still think of horse racing as the sport of kings, with its elegant hats and expensive bets.
be a bad sport
idiomSomeone who behaves unpleasantly or unhelpfully, especially after losing a game or facing a problem.
Tom was a bad sport when he lost the chess match.
Why is Sara being such a bad sport about the team's defeat?
be a (good) sport
idiomSomeone who is generous, cheerful, and pleasant, especially in a difficult situation or after losing a game.
Maya was a good sport and congratulated the winner.
Be a sport and help me carry these boxes.
sport — verb
1. To wear a particular item of clothing, accessory, or decoration in a way that is
To wear a particular item of clothing, accessory, or decoration in a way that is clearly visible and often intended to attract attention or show confidence.
Christopher sported a bright yellow jacket that everyone noticed at the party.
sport + clothing item — showing off
The guitarist sported a new tattoo of a dragon on his forearm.
Wren sported a confident smile as she accepted the award on stage.
A few students sported face paint in the school colours on game day.
The old building still sports its original iron gates from the 1920s.
extended use: be decorated with (of buildings/objects)
- sport a tattoo
- sport a hat
- sport a smile
- sport a beard
- sport a logo
Grammar Patterns
sport + noun phrase
Usage Note
This verb is most often used when the item being shown is eye-catching or unusual — a flashy jacket, a new hairstyle, a bold accessory. It is less common for everyday, neutral clothing ('she sported jeans' would sound odd unless the jeans are remarkable).
Common Mistakes
sport — adjective
1. Connected to or designed for use in physical games, competitions, and athletic a
Connected to or designed for use in physical games, competitions, and athletic activities.
Mateo wore a sport coat and jeans to the casual dinner party.
collocation: sport coat
The school ordered new sport equipment for the basketball team.
The store sells sport shoes for running, hiking, and tennis.
A sport event is scheduled for Saturday at the community centre.
collocation: sport event
- sport coat
- sport jacket
- sport event
- sport equipment
- sport shoe
- athletic
slightly broader — can describe a person's build, not just objects
Grammar Patterns
[attributive] sport + noun
Usage Note
In American English, the attributive form is more often 'sports' ('sports car', 'sports jacket', 'sports event'). 'Sport' as an adjective is still seen in 'sport coat/jacket' and some British uses ('sport shop').
Common Mistakes
Word family
Synonym discussion
Sense: noun/1
'Sport' is the broadest of the three, covering any organised physical competition with rules — from football to chess-like sports such as darts. 'Game' focuses more narrowly on the specific contest or match itself ('a game of tennis') and can also refer to non-athletic activities like board games. 'Athletics' is narrower still, primarily referring to track-and-field events such as running, jumping, and throwing. For a learner: use 'sport' for the general category ('I like sport'), 'game' for a single match ('We won the game'), and 'athletics' for competitive running and jumping events ('She is training for athletics').
Common collocations
Nouns
- sport and recreation
- sport and leisure
- sport and fitness
Phrases
- a sport of
- the sport of
Prepositions
- sport with
- sport in
Etymology
The word 'sport' began as a shortened form of the Middle English word 'disport', which meant amusement or entertainment. 'Disport' came into English from Old French 'desporter' (to carry away, to amuse oneself), which in turn came from Latin 'deportare' (to carry away, to divert). Over time, the meaning shifted from general amusement to the specific physical games and competitions we now associate with the word.