blood sport: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
Low to Mid-frequencyFormal, journalistic, critical
Quick answer
What does “blood sport” mean?
A sport or activity in which animals are killed, hunted, or made to fight, often for the entertainment or gambling pleasure of spectators.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A sport or activity in which animals are killed, hunted, or made to fight, often for the entertainment or gambling pleasure of spectators.
Can refer metaphorically to any competitive activity characterized by extreme aggression, cruelty, or the desire to see someone defeated or humiliated.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term is used identically in concept. Fox hunting is the quintessential British historical example, while cockfighting or dogfighting might be more commonly referenced in an American context.
Connotations
Both carry strong negative connotations. In the UK, it is closely tied to class debates and traditional rural pastimes. In the US, it is more associated with illegal underground activities.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in UK media due to the long-standing political debate around fox hunting.
Grammar
How to Use “blood sport” in a Sentence
[Subject] condemns/opposes/bans blood sports.Fox hunting is considered a blood sport.The debate centred on the issue of blood sports.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “blood sport” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The politicians were accused of blood-sporting their opponents in the media. (rare, derived)
American English
- The debate moderator refused to blood-sport the candidates. (rare, derived)
adverb
British English
- The journalists pursued the story blood-sportingly. (extremely rare)
American English
- They competed blood-sportingly for the promotion. (extremely rare)
adjective
British English
- He was known for his blood-sport tactics in business. (rare, attributive)
American English
- The campaign took a blood-sport turn after the first debate. (rare, attributive)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
"The hostile takeover bid descended into a corporate blood sport, with both sides leaking damaging information."
Academic
"The paper examines the socio-historical construction of 'blood sport' as a category of moral condemnation in Victorian Britain."
Everyday
"I can't watch those reality shows where they just humiliate people—it feels like a blood sport."
Technical
"Legislation defines specific activities, such as dogfighting with a live bait animal, as illegal blood sports."
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “blood sport”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “blood sport”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “blood sport”
- Using it to describe a physically rough but consensual sport like boxing or MMA (these are 'combat sports').
- Spelling as 'bloodsport' (though sometimes accepted, the two-word form is standard).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, not in standard usage. The term 'blood sport' specifically implies killing for sport, spectacle, or pleasure. Regulated hunting for food, population control, or subsistence is typically not labelled as such, though opponents of hunting may use the term broadly.
Almost never. The term is inherently critical. Someone defending an activity like fox hunting would avoid the term, using instead 'field sport', 'traditional hunt', or 'country pursuit'.
A 'combat sport' (e.g., boxing, judo) involves consensual human competitors following strict rules for athletic competition. A 'blood sport' involves the killing or forced combat of animals (or metaphorically, the severe harming of people) primarily for entertainment, often with an ethical dimension of cruelty.
Yes, particularly in journalism and political analysis. It is used to criticise overly aggressive, ruthless, or destructive competition in fields like politics, business, or law, implying that the participants enjoy the figurative 'bloodshed' of their opponents.
A sport or activity in which animals are killed, hunted, or made to fight, often for the entertainment or gambling pleasure of spectators.
Blood sport is usually formal, journalistic, critical in register.
Blood sport: in British English it is pronounced /ˈblʌd spɔːt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈblʌd spɔːrt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Politics has become a blood sport.”
- “The courtroom battle was a veritable blood sport.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'blood' literally spilled for 'sport' or entertainment. Link it to the image of a Roman gladiator combat (a historical blood sport).
Conceptual Metaphor
COMPETITION IS WAR / ENTERTAINMENT IS CRUELTY. Metaphorically frames aggressive competition as a violent spectacle where 'blood' is drawn figuratively through defeat.
Practice
Quiz
In a metaphorical sense, which of the following could be described as a 'blood sport'?