sumo

American  

[soo-moh] / ˈsu moʊ /

noun

1. a form of wrestling in Japan in which a contestant wins by forcing his opponent out of the ring or by causing him to touch the ground with any part of his body other than the soles of his feet, contestants usually being men of great height and weight.

---

sumo British  

/ ˈsuːməʊ /

noun

1. the national style of wrestling of Japan, the object of which is to force one's opponent to touch the ground with any part of his body except the soles of his feet or to step out of the ring

---

Other Word Forms

• sumoist noun

Etymology

Origin of sumo

1895–1900; < Japanese sumō, earlier suma(f )u to wrestle

Example Sentences

The men dressed up incongruously as samurai warriors, and Riley arranged for the sumo world champion to be there, all 350 pounds of him.

From The Wall Street Journal

Danylo Yavhusishyn fled the war in Ukraine to become a sumo wrestler in Japan and his rapid rise has taken him to one step away from reaching the ancient sport's highest rank.

From Barron's

After years on the sidelines, sumo is back centre stage as part of Japan's soft power arsenal overseas.

From Barron's

"I was able to win, thanks to you," Yavhusishyn said in a winner's address to the roaring, sold-out crowd at the Kokugikan sumo arena.

From Barron's

On the dohyo, the sacred mound of straw, sand, and clay where sumo wrestlers ply their trade, the most unlikely star in the sport goes by Aonishiki.

From The Wall Street Journal