sportsman

noun

sports·​man ˈspȯrts-mən 

1

: a person who engages in sports (such as hunting or fishing)

2

: a person who shows sportsmanship

sportsmanlike

ˈspȯrts-mən-ˌlīk 

adjective

sportsmanly

ˈspȯrts-mən-lē 

adjective

Examples of sportsman in a Sentence

He was a keen sportsman all his life.

Recent Examples on the Web

Previous sandhill crane hunting bills have not fared well in Wisconsin’s legislature, the last in 2022 as part of a larger sportsman’s package. —Andrew McKean, Outdoor Life, 17 Jan. 2025

His calls for more crowd participation are the modern day sportsman’s go to battle cry, while he’s also had a fair slice of luck in three innings so far. —Tim Ellis, Forbes, 4 Jan. 2025

In other words, adopting Amendment 2 won’t change any existing fishing regulations or the agency’s ability to set seasons, bag limits, or methods, and sportsmen will still have to purchase fishing and hunting licenses. —Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 6 Nov. 2024

Any sportsman of conscience should do what is right: Boycott Afghanistan. —Jackson Thompson, Fox News, 1 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1651, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

sportsman

noun

sports·​man ˈspō(ə)rt-smən 

ˈspȯ(ə)rt-

1

: a person who engages in or is interested in sports and especially outdoor sports

2

: sport entry 2 sense 3

sportsmanlike

-ˌlīk 

adjective

sportsmanly

-lē 

adjective