sportsman

[ spawrts-muhn, spohrts- ]

noun

, plural sports·men.

1. a man who engages in sports, sports, especially in some open-air sport, as hunting, fishing, racing, etc.
2. a person who exhibits qualities especially esteemed in those who engage in sports, sports, as fairness, courtesy, good temper, etc.

sportsman

/ ˈspɔːtsmən /

noun

1. a man who takes part in sports, esp of the outdoor type
2. a person who exhibits qualities highly regarded in sport, such as fairness, generosity, observance of the rules, and good humour when losing

Gender Note

See -man.

Derived Forms

• ˈsportsmanˌship, noun
• ˈsportsman-ˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• sportsman·like sportsman·ly adjective
• sportsman·li·ness noun
• un·sportsman·like adjective
• un·sportsman·ly adjective adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of sportsman¹

First recorded in 1700–10; sports + -man

Example Sentences

Behind the bar of The Sportsman Inn, Mr Fletcher has flavours on offer from caviar to salted egg yolk.

From BBC

The Sportsman Inn stopped serving food after the Covid lockdowns because it was “difficult to make any margin on”.

From BBC

More than anything, I will remember him as a sportsman with few peers.

From Los Angeles Times

A keen sportsman, Mr Ellis had been out with his girlfriend and others to celebrate his 25th birthday when he suffered a single blow to his chest with a huge hunting-style knife.

From BBC

"I always knew I wanted to be a sportsman," says Grandidier Nkanang.

From BBC