sportsmanship
Americannoun
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the character, practice, or skill of a sportsman.
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sportsmanlike conduct, as fairness, courtesy, being a cheerful loser, etc.
Etymology
Origin of sportsmanship
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.
Olympic qualification doesn’t involve a political litmus test—only citizenship, sportsmanship and skill.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 17, 2026
“This is about the integrity of sport and code of ethics that upholds sportsmanship, fair play, integrity, respect and community,” Uhlaender said in a post on X.
From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 29, 2026
The music swells further as he reflects on how crushed he was to lose his job over what his lawyers called a “silent or quiet prayer of thanksgiving for player safety, sportsmanship, and spirited competition.”
From Slate • Oct. 1, 2025
That was the sportsmanship, celebrating the game together.
From BBC • Sep. 11, 2025
The papers were singing of Riddle’s sportsmanship in starting War Admiral in the race.
From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand
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.
