Synonyms

sports

American

[spawrts, spohrts] / spɔrts, spoʊrts /

adjective

of or relating to a sport or sports, especially of the open-air or athletic kind.

a sports festival.
(of garments, equipment, etc.) suitable for use in open-air sports or for outdoor or informal use.

sports British

/ spɔːts /

noun

(modifier) relating to, concerned with, or used in sports

sports equipment
(modifier) relating to or similar to a sports car

sports seats
Also called: sports day. a meeting held at a school or college for competitions in various athletic events

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of sports

First recorded in 1910–15; sport + -s ³

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

She praises the Fidesz mayor for rebuilding the roads, the kindergarten, and the sports centre.

From BBC • Apr. 3, 2026

Before that, Roshan interned with the sports desks at the Journal, Seattle Times and Richmond Times-Dispatch.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

“It borrowed from sports broadcasting, highlighting trades, promotions and relationships, and made the industry feel dynamic and entertaining,” Chaparro said.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026

She said youth sports at the grassroots level are failing.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 3, 2026

Below was a drop-down box to select your zip code, followed by a checkbox list of various activities, like sports, concerts, and volunteering.

From "Sir Fig Newton and the Science of Persistence" by Sonja Thomas

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023