# sport

/ˈspɔɹt/ (US) · /spˈɔːt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/sport
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. physical activity

noun · CEFR A1

a game or activity that needs physical effort and skill, usually played against others.

For teachers: a competitive physical activity or game conducted according to a specific set of rules.

- Football is the most popular sport in many countries around the world.
- The school offers a wide range of team sports, including rugby and field hockey, to encourage physical fitness among students.

### 2. a fair person

noun · CEFR B1 · Informal

someone who is fair and does not get angry when they lose.

For teachers: a person who reacts to defeat or teasing with good-natured resilience; often used in the phrase 'a good sport'.

- Thanks for being such a good sport about the joke we played on you.
- Even after the controversial refereeing decision cost him the match, he remained a good sport and shook his opponent's hand.

### 3. friend or mate

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal · British English

a friendly way to address a man or a boy.

For teachers: an informal term of address for a male peer or a child, functioning as a marker of camaraderie.

- How are you doing, sport? I haven't seen you in ages.
- The old man patted the boy on the shoulder and said, 'Don't worry about it, sport; you'll do better next time.'

### 4. biological mutation

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a plant or animal that is different from others of its kind because of a natural change.

For teachers: an organism or part of an organism that shows a marked variation from the normal type as a result of mutation.

- The gardener noticed a white flower on the red rose bush and realised it was a sport.
- In botany, a sport can often be propagated to create a new cultivar with unique aesthetic characteristics.

### 5. to wear or display

verb · CEFR B2

to wear something or have a feature that people will notice.

For teachers: to wear or display something ostentatiously or as a notable feature.

- He decided to sport a new moustache for the summer holidays.
- The vintage car was sporting a fresh coat of paint and original chrome bumpers for the parade.

### 6. to play

verb · CEFR C1 · Literary

to play or enjoy yourself in a happy way.

For teachers: to play or frolic in a lighthearted manner; often used of animals or children.

- The lambs were sporting in the green fields under the afternoon sun.
- The poet described the dolphins sporting in the wake of the ship as it crossed the calm Mediterranean.

## Examples

- Football is my favorite sport to play with friends.
- The school offers a wide variety of sport and leisure activities for students after class.
- While some argue that chess qualifies as a sport due to its competitive nature, others insist that physical athleticism is a necessary component of the definition.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.