unsportsmanlike
Britishadjective
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.
“The length of Stewart’s suspension is based in part on his repeated history of unsportsmanlike acts,” the NBA said in a statement.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 11, 2026
The PDC does not have a specific, timed rule for pace of play, but deliberate slow play intended to disrupt an opponent is considered unsportsmanlike conduct and a potential rules breach.
From BBC ● Dec. 21, 2025
An unsportsmanlike penalty even provided the Braves at first and inches from the goal line.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 1, 2025
Three plays later, an underthrown deep ball by Dart produced a defensive pass interference penalty near the end zone, and the ball was moved even closer when Payton was whistled for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2025
So they called technical fouls on four of our players for leaving the bench and on Coach for unsportsmanlike conduct.
From "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie
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.
