sportswoman

[spawrts-woom-uhn, spohrts-]

noun

plural

sportswomen 

1. a woman who engages in sports. sports.

sportswoman

/ ˈspɔːtsˌwʊmən /

noun

1. a woman who takes part in sports, esp of the outdoor type

Gender Note

See -woman.

Word History and Origins

Origin of sportswoman¹

First recorded in 1745–55; sports + -woman

Example Sentences

More than two-thirds of 143 elite British sportswomen who responded to a BBC Sport questionnaire in 2024 said the majority of the equipment they used was not specifically designed for a woman.

Read more on BBC

Outside politics, Connolly is a passionate Irish speaker and a keen sportswoman who ran marathons and played badminton competitively in her younger years.

Read more on BBC

Described by her friends as "a fantastic sportswoman", Lily was passionate about swimming, running and being at the beach.

Read more on BBC

But they are professional sportswomen who each have huge summers ahead of them in an England shirt.

Read more on BBC

A BBC Sport study of elite British sportswomen last year found almost two-thirds of respondents said their performance was affected by their period, or that they have missed training or competition because of their period.

Read more on BBC