sporting

American  

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

adjective

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

   a rugged, sporting man.

2. concerned with or suitable for such sports: sports.

   sporting equipment.

3. sportsmanlike.

4. interested in or connected with sports 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

For example, Carle said, ask: “How do I get tickets to the sporting events?”

From MarketWatch • Apr. 10, 2026

Parrot, 40, is now one of three people overseeing the day-to-day running of the club, along with sporting director Jean-Louis Leca and head coach Pierre Sage.

From BBC • Apr. 10, 2026

The JOC is not the first sporting organisation to carry out a social media monitoring programme.

From Barron's • Apr. 9, 2026

But the night is young and military deployments aren’t sporting events.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 2026

His hair is perfectly slicked back and he is sporting the puffiest mustache I have ever seen.

From "Marcus Vega Doesn't Speak Spanish" by Pablo Cartaya