Definition

1. Noun:
   • Fair and generous behavior or treatment of others in a competitive activity: "sportsmanship" refers to the ethical and honorable conduct expected from participants in sports or games, emphasizing respect for opponents, adherence to rules, and graciousness in both victory and defeat.
   • The spirit of fair play: It embodies the principle of competing with integrity, where the manner of participation is valued as highly as the outcome.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The coach emphasized the importance of good sportsmanship above winning. (The coach stressed that ethical conduct during competition is more important than victory.)
  • She was awarded a trophy for her exceptional sportsmanship during the tournament. (She received a trophy for her outstanding display of fair and respectful behavior in the tournament.)
  • True sportsmanship means shaking your opponent's hand after the match, regardless of the result. (Genuine fair play involves showing respect to your opponent after the game, win or lose.)

Advanced Usage

• "to display/show sportsmanship": to demonstrate fair and honorable behavior.
  • The team captain displayed great sportsmanship by helping an injured player from the opposing side. (The team captain showed excellent fair play by assisting a hurt opponent.)
• "a model of sportsmanship": an exemplary standard of fair and ethical conduct.
  • He is considered a model of sportsmanship for his consistent integrity on and off the field. (He is regarded as a perfect example of ethical sporting behavior due to his unwavering integrity.)

Variants and Related Words

• Sportsmanlike (adj): characterized by or exhibiting qualities of good sportsmanship.
  • It was a sportsmanlike gesture to concede the point. (Conceding the point was a gesture in the spirit of fair play.)
• Unsportsmanlike (adj): not conforming to the standards of good sportsmanship; unfair or dishonorable.
  • The player received a penalty for unsportsmanlike conduct. (The player was penalized for behavior that violated the principles of fair play.)

Synonyms

• Fair play: just and honest treatment in a competition.
• Honor: adherence to what is right or to a conventional standard of conduct in competition.
• Integrity: the quality of being honest and having strong moral principles in a sporting context.

Related Phrases

• Good loser/graceful loser: someone who accepts defeat with dignity and without complaint, a key aspect of sportsmanship.
  • Being a good loser is a fundamental part of sportsmanship. (Accepting defeat gracefully is a basic element of ethical sporting behavior.)
• Win with humility, lose with grace: an idiom summarizing the core attitude of sportsmanship.
  • Our team's motto is to win with humility and lose with grace. (Our team's guiding principle is to be modest in victory and dignified in defeat.)

Related Idioms

• It's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game.: This proverb highlights that the spirit and fairness of competition (sportsmanship) are more important than the final score.
  • Remember, kids, it's not whether you win or lose, it's how you play the game. (Remember, children, your conduct during the game matters more than the outcome.)

Noun

1. fairness in following the rules of the game