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
Explanation
Sportsmanship is a type of fairness expected of athletes. If you never cheat or act rude while playing a game, you are modeling good sportsmanship. Sportsmanship has to do with how people play games, not if they win or lose games. You could win and have terrible sportsmanship if you cheated, yelled at the referees, or refused to shake hands after the game. Sportsmanship has to do with fairness and manners; both winners and losers can be good or bad sportsmen. Women show sportsmanship too, of course. If you have good sportsmanship, you respect the game, your teammates, the other team, and the fans too.
Vocabulary lists containing sportsmanship
Vocabulary of the Summer Olympics
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Father's Day Words
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Physical Education - Introductory
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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.
Last week, the beloved Sesame Street character attempted what seemed like a harmless gesture of sportsmanship, posting support for both teams competing in the Finals.
From Salon • Jun. 7, 2026
Only one player has won the NHL’s top sportsmanship award more often this century.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 11, 2026
Olympic qualification doesn’t involve a political litmus test—only citizenship, sportsmanship and skill.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 17, 2026
Despite his disappointment, Djokovic showed his sportsmanship by clambering over the net to warmly hug Alcaraz on creating a slice of history.
From BBC • Feb. 1, 2026
"It is given for the best display of sportsmanship during the race," she said.
From "Black Star, Bright Dawn" by Scott O'Dell
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.
