Game vs. Sport: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 25, 2023
A game is a structured form of play, often for entertainment, while a sport is a physical activity with competitive, skill-based, and rule-governed play, often recognized institutionally.
Key Differences
Games encompass a wide range of activities, including board games, video games, and playground games, often emphasizing fun and entertainment. In contrast, sports are structured physical activities with a focus on physical exertion, skill, competition, and often have formal rules and organizations.
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Nov 29, 2023
While games can be played casually or competitively, with or without physical exertion, sports are inherently physical and typically involve individual or team competition, with set rules and often organized in leagues or tournaments.
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Nov 29, 2023
Games can include activities based purely on chance, strategy, or a combination of both, appealing to a wide range of ages and abilities. Sports, however, usually require physical skills and training, and are often spectator activities with a significant fan following.
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Nov 29, 2023
Sports are recognized for their role in promoting physical fitness and are often regulated by official bodies, whereas games may not necessarily have such formal institutions or emphasis on physical well-being.
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Nov 29, 2023
The term game is broader and can include sports, but not all games are sports. Conversely, all sports are games in the broader sense of structured play, but with specific additional characteristics like physicality and formal competition.
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Nov 29, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Nature
Structured play, often for entertainment
Physical activity with competitive play
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Audience
Broad, all ages and abilities
Often spectator-focused with fan base
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Nov 29, 2023
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Game and Sport Definitions
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Sport
Individual Sport
Tennis is a sport that demands both skill and stamina.
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Nov 23, 2023
Game
An activity providing entertainment or amusement; a pastime
Party games.
Word games.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sport
An activity involving physical exertion and skill that is governed by a set of rules or customs and often undertaken competitively.
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Oct 19, 2023
Game
A competitive activity or sport in which players contend with each other according to a set of rules
The game of basketball.
The game of gin rummy.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sport
Often sports (used with a sing. verb) Such activities considered as a group
Sports is a good way for children to get exercise.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sport
A usually challenging activity undertaken for amusement
"the sport of trying to eat [a bratwurst] with anything fewer than four paper napkins" (Jane Kramer).
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Oct 19, 2023
Game
Games An organized athletic program or contest
Track-and-field games.
Took part in the winter games.
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Oct 19, 2023
Game
A period of competition or challenge
It was too late in the game to change the schedule of the project.
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Oct 19, 2023
Game
The total number of points required to win a game
One hundred points is game in bridge.
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Oct 19, 2023
Game
The score accumulated at any given time in a game
The game is now 14 to 12.
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Oct 19, 2023
Game
The equipment needed for playing certain games
Packed the children's games in the car.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sport
One known for the manner of one's acceptance of rules, especially of a game, or of a difficult situation
A poor sport.
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Oct 19, 2023
Game
A particular style or manner of playing a game
Improved my tennis game with practice.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sport
(Informal) A fair-minded person, especially one who accepts teasing or difficult situations well
Be a sport and show me where you caught those fish.
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Oct 19, 2023
Game
An active interest or pursuit, especially one involving competitive engagement or adherence to rules
"the way the system operates, the access game, the turf game, the image game" (Hedrick Smith).
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Oct 19, 2023
Game
Evasive, trifling, or manipulative behavior
Wanted a straight answer, not more of their tiresome games.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sport
(Biology) An organism or a part of an organism that shows a marked change from the parent type, typically as a result of mutation.
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Oct 19, 2023
Game
A calculated strategy or approach; a scheme
I saw through their game from the very beginning.
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Oct 19, 2023
Game
(Mathematics) A model of a competitive situation that identifies interested parties and stipulates rules governing all aspects of the competition, used in game theory to determine the optimal course of action for an interested party.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sport
To joke or trifle
"Lear ... in a storm, half mad, sported with by the gods" (Cynthia Ozick).
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Oct 19, 2023
Sport
To wear or have on one's body, especially prominently or ostentatiously
Sports diamond earrings.
Sports a tattoo.
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Oct 19, 2023
Game
An object of attack, ridicule, or pursuit
The press considered the candidate's indiscretions to be game.
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Oct 19, 2023
Game
Mockery; sport
The older children teased and made game of the newcomer.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sport
Of, relating to, or appropriate for sports
Sport fishing.
Sports equipment.
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Oct 19, 2023
Game
To manipulate dishonestly for personal gain; rig
Executives who gamed the system to get huge payoffs.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sport
(countable) Any activity that uses physical exertion or skills competitively under a set of rules that is not based on aesthetics.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sport
(countable) A person who exhibits either good or bad sportsmanship.
Jen may have won, but she was sure a poor sport; she laughed at the loser.
The loser was a good sport, and congratulated Jen on her performance.
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Oct 19, 2023
Game
Plucky and unyielding in spirit; resolute
She put up a game fight against her detractors.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sport
(countable) Somebody who behaves or reacts in an admirably good-natured manner, e.g. to being teased or to losing a game; a good sport.
You're such a sport! You never get upset when we tease you.
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Oct 19, 2023
Game
A playful activity that may be unstructured; an amusement or pastime.
Being a child is all fun and games.
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Oct 19, 2023
Game
(countable) An activity described by a set of rules, especially for the purpose of entertainment, often competitive or having an explicit goal.
Games in the classroom can make learning fun.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sport
A plant or an animal, or part of a plant or animal, which has some peculiarity not usually seen in the species; an abnormal variety or growth. The term encompasses both mutants and organisms with non-genetic developmental abnormalities such as birth defects.
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Oct 19, 2023
Game
(countable) A particular instance of playing a game.
Sally won the game.
They can turn the game around in the second half.
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Oct 19, 2023
Game
The number of points necessary to win a game.
In short whist, five points are game.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sport
A friend or acquaintance (chiefly used when speaking to the friend in question)
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Oct 19, 2023
Game
(card games) In some games, a point awarded to the player whose cards add up to the largest sum.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sport
.
Hey, sport! You've gotten so big since I saw you last! Give me five.
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Oct 19, 2023
Game
(countable) The equipment that enables such activity, particularly as packaged under a title.
Some of the games in the closet we have on the computer as well.
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Oct 19, 2023
Game
One's manner, style, or performance in playing a game.
Study can help your game of chess.
Hit the gym if you want to toughen up your game.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sport
(intransitive) To amuse oneself, to play.
Children sporting on the green
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Oct 19, 2023
Sport
(intransitive) To mock or tease, treat lightly, toy with.
Jen sports with Bill's emotions.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sport
(transitive) To display; to have as a notable feature.
Jen's sporting a new pair of shoes;
He was sporting a new wound from the combat
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Oct 19, 2023
Game
A field of gainful activity, as an industry or profession.
When it comes to making sales, John is the best in the game.
He's in the securities game somehow.
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Oct 19, 2023
Game
Something that resembles a game with rules, despite not being designed.
In the game of life, you may find yourself playing the waiting game far too often.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sport
To practise the diversions of the field or the turf; to be given to betting, as upon races.
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Oct 19, 2023
Game
An exercise simulating warfare, whether computerized or involving human participants.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sport
To assume suddenly a new and different character from the rest of the plant or from the type of the species; said of a bud, shoot, plant, or animal.
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Oct 19, 2023
Game
(uncountable) wild animals hunted for food.
The forest has plenty of game.
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Oct 19, 2023
Game
The ability to seduce someone, usually by strategy.
He didn't get anywhere with her because he had no game.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sport
That which diverts, and makes mirth; pastime; amusement.
It is as sport to a fool to do mischief.
Her sports were such as carried riches of knowledge upon the stream of delight.
Think it but a minute spent in sport.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sport
Mock; mockery; contemptuous mirth; derision.
Then make sport at me; then let me be your jest.
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Oct 19, 2023
Game
(countable) A questionable or unethical practice in pursuit of a goal.
You want to borrow my credit card for a week? What's your game?
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Oct 19, 2023
Sport
That with which one plays, or which is driven about in play; a toy; a plaything; an object of mockery.
Flitting leaves, the sport of every wind.
Never does man appear to greater disadvantage than when he is the sport of his own ungoverned passions.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sport
Play; idle jingle.
An author who should introduce such a sport of words upon our stage would meet with small applause.
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Oct 19, 2023
Game
(of an animal) That shows a tendency to continue to fight against another animal, despite being wounded, often severely.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sport
Diversion of the field, as fowling, hunting, fishing, racing, games, and the like, esp. when money is staked.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sport
A plant or an animal, or part of a plant or animal, which has some peculiarity not usually seen in the species; an abnormal variety or growth. See Sporting plant, under Sporting.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sport
To play; to frolic; to wanton.
[Fish], sporting with quick glance,Show to the sun their waved coats dropt with gold.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sport
To practice the diversions of the field or the turf; to be given to betting, as upon races.
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Oct 19, 2023
Game
(transitive) To exploit loopholes in a system or bureaucracy in a way which defeats or nullifies the spirit of the rules in effect, usually to obtain a result which otherwise would be unobtainable.
We'll bury them in paperwork, and game the system.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sport
To divert; to amuse; to make merry; - used with the reciprocal pronoun.
Against whom do ye sport yourselves?
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Oct 19, 2023
Sport
To represent by any kind of play.
Now sporting on thy lyre the loves of youth.
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Oct 19, 2023
Game
Having a resolute, unyielding spirit, like the gamecock; ready to fight to the last; plucky.
I was game . . . .I felt that I could have fought even to the death.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sport
To exhibit, or bring out, in public; to use or wear; as, to sport a new equipage.
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Oct 19, 2023
Game
Of or pertaining to such animals as are hunted for game, or to the act or practice of hunting.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sport
To give utterance to in a sportive manner; to throw out in an easy and copious manner; - with off; as, to sport off epigrams.
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Oct 19, 2023
Game
Sport of any kind; jest, frolic.
We have had pastimes here, and pleasant game.
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Oct 19, 2023
Game
A contest, physical or mental, according to certain rules, for amusement, recreation, or for winning a stake; as, a game of chance; games of skill; field games, etc.
But war's a game, which, were their subject wise,Kings would not play at.
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Oct 19, 2023
Game
The use or practice of such a game; a single match at play; a single contest; as, a game at cards.
Talk the game o'er between the deal.
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Oct 19, 2023
Game
That which is gained, as the stake in a game; also, the number of points necessary to be scored in order to win a game; as, in short whist five points are game.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sport
(biology) an organism that has characteristics resulting from chromosomal alteration
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Oct 19, 2023
Game
In some games, a point credited on the score to the player whose cards counts up the highest.
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Oct 19, 2023
Game
A scheme or art employed in the pursuit of an object or purpose; method of procedure; projected line of operations; plan; project.
Your murderous game is nearly up.
It was obviously Lord Macaulay's game to blacken the greatest literary champion of the cause he had set himself to attack.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sport
Verbal wit (often at another's expense but not to be taken seriously);
He became a figure of fun
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Oct 19, 2023
Game
Animals pursued and taken by sportsmen; wild meats designed for, or served at, table.
Those species of animals . . . distinguished from the rest by the well-known appellation of game.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sport
Wear or display in an ostentatious or proud manner;
She was sporting a new hat
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Oct 19, 2023
Game
To rejoice; to be pleased; - often used, in Old English, impersonally with dative.
God loved he best with all his whole hearteAt alle times, though him gamed or smarte.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sport
Play boisterously;
The children frolicked in the garden
The gamboling lambs in the meadows
The toddlers romped in the playroom
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Oct 19, 2023
Game
To play for a stake or prize; to use cards, dice, billiards, or other instruments, according to certain rules, with a view to win money or some other thing waged upon the issue of the contest; to gamble.
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Oct 19, 2023
Sport
Recreational Sport
They played golf, a leisurely sport, every weekend.
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Nov 23, 2023
Game
A contest with rules to determine a winner;
You need four people to play this game
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Oct 19, 2023
Game
An amusement or pastime;
They played word games
He thought of his painting as a game that filled his empty time
His life was all fun and games
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Oct 19, 2023
Game
The game equipment needed to play a game;
The child received several games for his birthday
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Oct 19, 2023
Game
Your occupation or line of work;
He's in the plumbing game
She's in show biz
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Oct 19, 2023
Game
(games) the score at a particular point or the score needed to win;
The game is 6 all
He is serving for the game
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Oct 19, 2023
Game
A secret scheme to do something (especially something underhand or illegal);
They concocted a plot to discredit the governor
I saw through his little game from the start
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Oct 19, 2023
Game
Frivolous or trifling behavior;
For actors, memorizing lines is no game
For him, life is all fun and games
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Oct 19, 2023
Game
Place a bet on;
Which horse are you backing?
I'm betting on the new horse
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Oct 19, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
What is a sport?
A competitive physical activity with rules and organization.
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Nov 29, 2023
Can a sport be a game?
Yes, sports are a subset of games with physical elements.
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Nov 29, 2023
Are sports always competitive?
Typically, but they can also be recreational.
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Nov 29, 2023
Are board games considered sports?
No, they are games without the physical sport aspect.
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Nov 29, 2023
Do sports require physical skill?
Yes, physical skill and training are key.
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Nov 29, 2023
Do games have formal rules?
Rules vary, some are formal, others are flexible.
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Nov 29, 2023
Can sports be non-competitive?
Rarely, though some emphasize personal achievement.
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Nov 29, 2023
Do games contribute to physical health?
Depends on the game, unlike sports, which generally do.
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Nov 29, 2023
Are there professional gamers?
Yes, in the context of video games and esports.
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Nov 29, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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