sporty

American  

[spawr-tee, spohr-] / ˈspɔr ti, ˈspoʊr- /

adjective

Informal.

sportier, sportiest

1. flashy; showy.

2. smart in dress, behavior, etc.

3. like or befitting a sportsman.

4. dissipated; fast.

   a sporty crowd.

5. designed for or suitable for sport.

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sporty British  

/ ˈspɔːtɪ /

adjective

1. (of a person) fond of sport or outdoor activities

2. (of clothes) having the appearance of sportswear

3. (of a car) having the performance or appearance of a sports car

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noun

1. informal a young person who typically wears sportswear, is competitive about sport , and takes an interest in his or her fitness

Other Word Forms

• sportily adverb
• sportiness noun

Etymology

Origin of sporty

First recorded in 1885–90; sport + -y ¹

Example Sentences

The 29-year-old project engineer from Richmond, Va., usually sticks with sporty sweatpants and a hoodie when he heads to the airport.

From The Wall Street Journal

Some guys can get away with stink—tall guys, sporty guys, guys who have something else they can be known for, like that guy who learned to unicycle.

From Literature

"We are such a sporty nation, we love to compete – and when we do something, we really want to be the best in the world in it."

From BBC

The car — first introduced in 1964 at the New York World’s Fair as a sporty, compact coup with just a little bit of an edge — is given a hero’s treatment.

From Los Angeles Times

A popular and sporty teenager who made a "big impression" at her new university died within weeks of starting, after contracting meningitis.

From BBC

Related Words

• snazzy