spectator sport

noun

1
: a sport (such as football, baseball, ice hockey, etc.) that many people watch
2
: something that people watch other people do without becoming involved themselves
For many, politics has become a spectator sport.

Examples of spectator sport in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
As the League of Women Voters says, elections are not a spectator sport. Letters To The Editor, The Mercury News, 28 Oct. 2024 In the arena, survival itself is a spectator sport and showmanship the only ticket out of starvation. Gayle Sequeira, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2024 For visitors and locals alike, ongoing drama over whether the Seine will be swimmable has become its own spectator sport. Laura King, Los Angeles Times, 16 July 2024 Defining the music on these terms commercially can only aid in the pervasive effort to turn hip-hop into a spectator sport to which tickets are sold. Sheldon Pearce, NPR, 13 June 2024 The Palestinian-Israeli conflict becomes for them a spectator sport for which to choose a side. Joshua M. Davidson, New York Daily News, 13 Feb. 2024 This giant version pits two teams against each other and makes for an engaging spectator sport for all ages. Lizzy Briskin, Peoplemag, 21 May 2024 Fashion’s favorite spectator sport is the Met Gala. Laird Borrelli-Persson, Vogue, 23 Apr. 2024 Kate's absence has turned into a shameful spectator sport, where her well-being is being discussed over family dinners and on TikTok videos. Elle Turner, Glamour, 15 Mar. 2024

Dictionary Entries Near spectator sport

Cite this Entry

“Spectator sport.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spectator%20sport. Accessed 16 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!