sported

Sported is the past tense and past participle of the verb to sport. In contemporary English, its most common sense is to wear or display something in a noticeable or fashionable way. For example, a person might sport a bright scarf or a team may sport matching uniforms. This sense emphasizes conspicuous presentation or pride in appearance.

A secondary sense refers to participating in sport or engaging in playful activity, but this usage is less common in modern prose. When the idea is simply to take part in a sport, writers typically use phrases like play sports or participate in a game rather than the simple past tense form sported.

Etymology and development: the verb to sport traces to earlier English uses connected with the broader idea of display or pastime. Over time, the sense of showing or bearing clothing, gear, or adornment became the predominant modern usage, while the sense related to athletic activity became less common as a stand-alone verb. The word remains common in journalistic and informal writing, where it conveys a lively or visually striking appearance.

Usage notes: sported often carries a positive or promotional connotation, highlighting style, novelty, or pride. It can be used attributively to describe ensembles, accessories, or public appearances, and occasionally appears in headlines for effect. It is less typical to use sported to describe routine participation in sports, where other constructions are preferred.

See also: sport, sporting, fashion terminology.