There are so many words associated with sports.
In this post, we’ll list 30 words associated with sports with their meaning. Also, you will find useful vocabulary related to types of sports, examples of sports.
30 Words Associated With Sports and Their Meaning
Here is a list of 30 words associated with sports and their meanings. This sports vocabulary word list will definitely help you expand your English vocabulary.
Win (verb)
To be first or best in a competition, race, or fight.
Win (noun)
Success in a race, fight, or competition.
Lose (verb)
To fail to win a game, a competition, etc.
Sporty (adjective)
Liking or good at sport
Head (verb)
To hit a ball with your head. (in football).
Pass (verb) (in ball sports)
To kick or throw the ball to a player in your own team.
Catch (verb)
To stop something that is moving in the air and hold it.
Referee (noun)
A person who controls a game in some sports to make sure that the rules of the game are respected.
Court (noun)
A place where games such as tennis, badminton, squash, basketball, volleyball, are played.
Course (noun)
A large area of land where golf is played. It is also called a golf course.
Pitch (noun)
A place where some sports like football, hockey, rugby, and cricket are played.
Coach (noun)
A person who gives special lessons to a person or team. (a football coach/ a tennis coach…)
Coach (verb)
To give special lessons to a team or person.
Goal (noun)
A frame with a net into which players have to kick the ball so as to score a point.
Supporters (noun)
People who support a sports team or player.
Rules (noun)
The laws that players must obey in a game or contest.
Compete (verb)
To take part in a contest or competition.
Beat (verb)
If you beat someone in a contest, a competition, a game, etc., you win.
Defend (verb)
To try to prevent your opponent from scoring a point or goal.
Physical education
Physical education refers to sports and exercise that students do at school as a school subject.
Watersports (noun)
Sports practised or carried out in the water like swimming and water-skiing.
Horse Race (noun)
A race between horses with riders.
Racehorse (noun)
A horse trained to run in races.
Fishing (noun)
The sport of catching fish.
Gliding (noun)
The sport of flying gliders.
Fitness centre (noun)
A place where people do exercise to keep fit and healthy.
Rock-climbing (noun)
The activity or sport of climbing steep rock surfaces.
Punch (verb)
To hit someone hard with your fist. (Fist = closed hand)
Pin (verb)
To make someone unable to move by holding them or pressing them against something.
The 30 words associated with sports and their meaning above are considered to be the most common vocabulary about sports.
What are the 3 Types of Sports?

There are 3 types of sports are team sports, dual sports, and individual sports.
Team Sports
Team sports are called so because they involve a team or a group of players that play together for pleasure or play against another team to win a match, a competition, etc. Team sports are usually played with a ball.
Here are examples of team sports:
- Basketball
- Football
- Volleyball
- Lacrosse
- Ultimate Frisbee
- Ice hockey
- American football
- Rugby
- Baseball
- Ice hockey
- Cricket
- Water polo
Football is called soccer in the United States of America.
Five Team Sports with definition
Here are 5 different team sports you may like to try:
1. Biathlon
A winter sport that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting.
2. Lacrosse

A game played by two teams of ten players on a field. The players use sticks with curved nets on them to catch, carry, and throw the ball.
3. Cricket
A ball sport played by two teams of eleven players each. This game is particularly practiced in Australia, Pakistan, India, the British Isles, and the West Indies.
4. Baseball
A game played by two teams of nine. This sport is very popular in the United States. The players use a bat and a ball.
5. Water polo
It’s a water sport that consists of two teams of swimmers who have to throw the ball into the others team’s goal.
Dual Sports
Dual sports are sports that involve two players competing against one another or two players striving against the other two players.
Examples of dual sports include the 5 racket sports (racquet sports), namely tennis, table tennis, badminton, squash, and paddle tennis.
Individual Sports
Individual sports involve a player competing against another one with the aim of winning the competition. Individual sports can also include sports that one can do alone with the aim of keeping fit and healthy such as cycling, gymnastics, bowling, archery, golf, shooting, swimming, etc.
Some individual sports are looked upon as dual sports. Examples of individual sports include tennis, table tennis, badminton, squash, racquetball, surfing, roller skating, ice skating, skiing, snowboarding, running, high jump, weight throw, weightlifting, etc.
Sports Vocabulary with Meaning: Positive Sports Words
Positive sports words | Meaning |
Record | Something done faster, better, etc. than anyone has done it. |
Break a record | To do something better, quicker, etc. than it has never been done before. |
Personal best | The highest standard an athlete has reached |
Popular | Enjoyed or liked by a large number of people. |
Relaxing | Making you less worried and calm. |
Exciting | Making you feel so happy and interested. |
30 Words Associated With Sports and Their Meaning: Descriptive Words for Sports
There are a lot of positive and negative adjectives to describe sports.
- Enjoyable
- Competitive
- Exciting
- Popular
- Healthy
- Relaxing
- Safe
- Outdoor
- Noble
- Rural
- Modern
- Individual
- Dual
- Manly
- Favourite
- Excellent
- Indoor
- Professional
- Amateur
- Athletic
- Olympic
- International
- Dangerous
- Extreme
- Unsafe
- Harmful
- Unhealthy
- Tiring
- Stupid
- Difficult
- Ridiculous
13 Words Related to Athletics
What is athletics in simple words?
Athletics, also called track and field sports, is a variety of sporting competitions like jumping, running, walking, shotput, etc. What are different words for athletics?
Below is 13 + words related to athletics.
- Athlete
- Athletic
- Gymnastics
- Running
- Jumping
- Lane
- Truck
- Starting line
- Finish line
- Starting blocks
- Sprinter
- Discus
- Shotput
Other Words Related to Athletics
This post of over 30 words associated with sports and their meaning can help you enrich and expand your English vocabulary.
Here is a longer list of words related to sports.
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