esports

American

[ee-spawrts] / ˈiˌspɔrts /

Or e-sports

noun

(usually used with a plural verb) competitive tournaments of video games, especially among professional gamers.
(used with a singular verb) esport, a video game suited to or popular in this kind of tournament.

adjective

of or relating to esports.

an esports event;
esports gambling.

Etymology

Origin of esports

First recorded in 1995–2000; e- ² (electronic) + sports

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.

A Thai court on Tuesday sentenced two eSports players to three months in detention for cheating at the Southeast Asian Games in Thailand last year.

From Barron's • Mar. 17, 2026

It was China's best international result in the game formerly known as Pro Evolution Soccer, which dominates the football eSports genre along with "EA Sports FC Online".

From Barron's • Oct. 28, 2025

Worldwide, football eSports is becoming a regular fixture.

From Barron's • Oct. 28, 2025

While Chinese teams have played football eSports at global tournaments in the past, the country is not on the roster for the upcoming FIFAe World Cup, an "eFootball" tournament in December in Saudi Arabia.

From Barron's • Oct. 28, 2025

China is one of the world's biggest gaming markets and its players are some of the best in other eSports games.

From Barron's • Oct. 28, 2025

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