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Synonyms

gamesmanship

American  
[geymz-muhn-ship] / ˈgeɪmz mənˌʃɪp /

noun

  1. the use of methods, especially in a sports contest, that are dubious or seemingly improper but not strictly illegal.

  2. the technique or practice of manipulating people or events so as to gain an advantage or outwit one's opponents or competitors.

gamesmanship British  
/ ˈɡeɪmzmənˌʃɪp /

noun

  1. informal the art of winning games or defeating opponents by clever or cunning practices without actually cheating

"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

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of gamesmanship

1945–50; game 1 + -s 3 + -manship, perhaps on the model of sportsmanship

Vocabulary lists containing gamesmanship

Vocabulary from Academy Award Nominees and Winners

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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.

GAMESMANSHIP: Paul Casey has seen his share of gamesmanship in match play, most notably on the professional level when Jason Day wouldn’t concede short putts in the Match Play.

From Washington Times • Mar. 20, 2018

GAMESMANSHIP: England coach Mark Sampson was respectful and complimentary Friday in the pre-match news conference, but he was a bit testier in an interview with The Guardian earlier in the week.

From Washington Times • Jun. 26, 2015

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

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.