sporting

adjective

sport·​ing ˈspȯr-tiŋ How to pronounce sporting (audio)
1
a
: of, relating to, used, or suitable for sport
especially : trained for trapping or retrieving game
sporting dogs
b
: marked by or calling for sportsmanship
c
: involving such risk as a sports contender may expect to take or encounter
a sporting chance
2
: of or relating to dissipation and especially gambling
3
: tending to mutate freely
sportingly adverb

Examples of sporting in a Sentence

It wasn't very sporting of you to trip him.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Known for its boozy, celebrity-stuffed broadcast, the Globes long ranked as one of the most-watched non-sporting live programs of the year. Time, 12 Dec. 2022 These are lessons often lost on commercial, non-sporting, organizations who all too often focus on the transaction, rather than the total experience. Bill Fischer, Forbes, 10 Oct. 2022 Non-sporting breeds were judged including the chow chows!! Alexandra Schonfeld, PEOPLE.com, 22 June 2022 The show's finalists each represent the best of seven different groups of dog breeds: herding, hound, non-sporting, terrier, toy and working. Aj Willingham, CNN, 22 June 2022 See all Example Sentences for sporting 

Word History

First Known Use

1713, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of sporting was in 1713

Dictionary Entries Near sporting

Cite this Entry

“Sporting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sporting. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

sporting

adjective
sport·​ing ˈspōrt-iŋ How to pronounce sporting (audio)
ˈspȯrt-
1
: of, relating to, or suitable for sport
sporting events
sporting dogs
2
: involving about as much risk as a sports competitor would expect to take
a sporting chance
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