sporting

American  

[spawr-ting, spohr-] / ˈspɔr tɪŋ, ˈspoʊr- /

adjective

1. engaging in, disposed to, or interested in open-air or athletic sports.

   a rugged, sporting man.

2. concerned with or suitable for such sports.

   sporting equipment.

3. sportsmanlike.

4. interested in or connected with sports or pursuits involving betting or gambling.

   the sporting life of Las Vegas.

5. involving or inducing the taking of risk, as in a sport.

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sporting British  

/ ˈspɔːtɪŋ /

adjective

1. (prenominal) of, relating to, or used or engaged in a sport or sports

   several sporting interests

2. relating or conforming to sportsmanship; fair

3. of, relating to, or characterized by an interest in gambling

4. willing to take a risk

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Other Word Forms

• nonsporting adjective
• nonsportingly adverb
• sportingly adverb
• unsporting adjective

Etymology

Origin of sporting

First recorded in 1590–1600; sport + -ing ²

Example Sentences

What pulled Zanardi through, and enabled him to go on to achieve at the elite sporting level again, was his remarkable force of will.

From BBC • May 2, 2026

For Aramco, the sponsorship will allow a presence at the most-watched sporting event in the world.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026

Supporters of using taxpayer dollars to attract major sporting events maintain that host cities get economic benefits from the exposure that comes with the spotlight of widely watched matches.

From Salon • Apr. 30, 2026

By then, he’d taken off his jacket and was sporting a tight black T-shirt.

From Slate • Apr. 29, 2026

Watching even the sorriest of sporting events bears no resemblance to coming upon an accident and hoping to exploit it for your own personal gain.

From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris