sumo
Americannoun
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of sumo
1895–1900; < Japanese sumō, earlier suma(f )u to wrestle
Explanation
Sumo is a Japanese wrestling style in which opponents try to force each other out of a ring. Sumo wrestlers are known for being enormous. The wrestlers live together and follow ancient traditions like growing their hair and wearing robes. Sumo wrestling is an ancient Japanese sport that follows traditional rituals, such as tossing salt into the ring before a match to cleanse it, or even the manner of dress, in which giant men wear only small loincloths. In sumo wrestling, the two opponents grapple with the goal of pushing each other out of the ring or to the mat. The word sumo literally means "to mutually rush at," though it's used to mean simply "to compete."
Vocabulary lists containing sumo
East Asia - Middle School
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East Asia - Introductory
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East Asia - High School
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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.
This week, a pile of sumo oranges that practically begged to be eaten on a blanket by the lake.
From Salon • May 22, 2026
The men dressed up incongruously as samurai warriors, and Riley arranged for the sumo world champion to be there, all 350 pounds of him.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 25, 2026
"I've heard that sumo is becoming more popular overseas and as a wrestler, it makes me happy if more people want to know more about it."
From Barron's • Feb. 4, 2026
Yavhusishyn said he speaks to his parents every day and his success in sumo has made headlines back in Ukraine.
From Barron's • Feb. 4, 2026
With its purification rituals and its imperial roots, sumo is sacrosanct in a way that American sports will never be.
From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt
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.
