sportsmanship
noun
sports·man·ship
ˈspȯrts-mən-ˌship 
: conduct (such as fairness, respect for one's opponent, and graciousness in winning or losing) becoming to one participating in a sport
Examples of sportsmanship in a Sentence
He's a great player who's also admired for his sportsmanship.
Recent Examples on the Web
While bad blood around the contests - watched by literally hundreds of millions around the world - had often been fuelled by nationalistic fans and warring governments, the players had generally shown sportsmanship and goodwill on the field.
—
Tristan Lavalette, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
But the Belgian’s remarkable show of sportsmanship meant that the image may be remembered as one of the defining moments of this year’s World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
—Jamie Barton, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2025
The league changed its policy this offseason to help deter schools from showing poor sportsmanship.
—Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
On the opening night of the 2025 NFL season, the Philadelphia Eagles met the Dallas Cowboys in a matchup that was overshadowed by several incidents that violated the core tenets of sportsmanship.
—Ron Mix, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sportsmanship
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Tristan Lavalette, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
But the Belgian’s remarkable show of sportsmanship meant that the image may be remembered as one of the defining moments of this year’s World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
—Jamie Barton, CNN Money, 14 Sep. 2025
The league changed its policy this offseason to help deter schools from showing poor sportsmanship.
—Michael Gallagher, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 Sep. 2025
On the opening night of the 2025 NFL season, the Philadelphia Eagles met the Dallas Cowboys in a matchup that was overshadowed by several incidents that violated the core tenets of sportsmanship.
—Ron Mix, San Diego Union-Tribune, 9 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for sportsmanship
Cite this Entry
“Sportsmanship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sportsmanship. Accessed 21 Sep. 2025.
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sportsmanship
noun
sports·man·ship
ˈspō(ə)rt-smən-ˌship
ˈspȯ(ə)rt-
: fair play, respect for opponents, and gracious behavior in winning or losing
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