spectator sport

noun

1. any sport that can be watched by spectators, as football or basketball, usually for a fee.

spectator sport

noun

1. a sport that attracts more people as spectators than as participants

Word History and Origins

Origin of spectator sport¹

First recorded in 1940–45

Example Sentences

In competition for readers increasingly interested in spectator sports like baseball and boxing, Pulitzer hired a “sporting editor” and created a separate sports section for the New York World.

From Washington Post

The limit on indoor spectator sports will be 250 people or 50 percent capacity, whichever is less, up from 100.

From Washington Post

Watching the Dow is a terrific spectator sport, and you can be sure that more than a few bottles of Champagne will be uncorked when we get a 30K Dow.

From Washington Post

These days, authoritative feminist discourse is no longer just a spectator sport.

From The Daily Beast

“This is not a gymnasium or spectator sport,” Ingram warned.

From The Daily Beast

The fight, our oldest spectator sport, isn't any fun when rooting for either side feels wrong.

From The Daily Beast

All the feel-good camaraderie didn't leave much room for everyone's favorite spectator sport: Oscar bashing.

From The Daily Beast

In many ways, the armed conflict ended up trivialized, another soap opera or spectator sport.

From Project Gutenberg