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

Stadium construction is another leading cause of mega sporting event emissions, so using only existing venues, as Paris mostly did for the last Olympics, is one main way event hosts can address climate change.

From Los Angeles Times • May 18, 2026

It is fodder for the debate about the economic merits of hosting big sporting events.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 17, 2026

It will feature a large banner focusing "not only on BlueCo's ownership but also on the club's sporting directors".

From BBC • May 16, 2026

They have five sporting directors, a squad built around young players on long-term contracts, and are still searching for a head coach to bring coherence to the project.

From BBC • May 16, 2026

Now in the whole town there was interest and discussion about this sporting event, but the most interesting question of all and the one that bothered the whole town was never spoken of.

From "Cannery Row" by John Steinbeck