contact sport: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2neutral
Quick answer
What does “contact sport” mean?
A sport in which participants physically interact with each other, often involving deliberate physical contact as part of normal play.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A sport in which participants physically interact with each other, often involving deliberate physical contact as part of normal play.
Any activity or situation characterized by frequent, direct, and often forceful interaction between participants, sometimes used metaphorically in business or politics.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in definition. Both varieties use the term identically for sports like rugby, American football, boxing, etc.
Connotations
Slightly stronger association with rugby in British English and with American football in American English.
Frequency
Comparable frequency in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “contact sport” in a Sentence
[subject] plays/participates in [contact sport][contact sport] involves [physical interaction][contact sport] is considered [adjective]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “contact sport” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- He decided to contact sport professionally after university.
- They don't contact sport during training sessions.
American English
- She loves to contact sport on weekends.
- The league rules prohibit how you can contact sport.
adverb
British English
- They played contact-sport aggressively.
- He tackled contact-sport style.
American English
- She competes contact-sport fiercely.
- They argued contact-sport loudly.
adjective
British English
- He has a contact-sport mentality in negotiations.
- It was a very contact-sport environment.
American English
- She adopted a contact sport approach to the project.
- The debate had a contact-sport intensity.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Used metaphorically to describe competitive, aggressive environments: 'Negotiating with them is a contact sport.'
Academic
Used in sports science, sociology of sport, and physical education to classify types of athletic activity.
Everyday
Common in discussions about sports, safety, children's activities, and personal preferences.
Technical
Used in medical contexts regarding injury risk, in sports regulations, and insurance classifications.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “contact sport”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “contact sport”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “contact sport”
- Using 'contact sport' for sports with only incidental contact (e.g., basketball, football/soccer).
- Misspelling as 'contact-sport' (hyphen usually not used in noun phrase).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is generally considered a 'limited-contact' or 'semi-contact' sport. While physical contact occurs, it is not the defining, intentional feature of play as in rugby or American football.
In medical/sports science contexts, 'collision sport' (e.g., American football, rugby) implies forceful, high-impact contact, while 'contact sport' (e.g., basketball, football/soccer) is a broader category that includes sports with less forceful, more incidental contact.
Yes, it is commonly used metaphorically to describe any activity characterized by aggressive, direct, and frequent interpersonal interaction, such as politics, high-stakes business, or competitive debates.
Safety is relative and depends on coaching, rules, and equipment. Sports like judo or wrestling, which teach controlled contact and falling safely, are often introduced to children with strict supervision and modified rules to minimize risk.
A sport in which participants physically interact with each other, often involving deliberate physical contact as part of normal play.
Contact sport is usually neutral in register.
Contact sport: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkɒn.tækt ˌspɔːt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkɑːn.tækt ˌspɔːrt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “It's a contact sport out there. (metaphorical)”
- “Politics is a contact sport.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
CONTACT = CONnect + ACTion. A sport where you CONnect (make contact) and ACT (physically interact).
Conceptual Metaphor
COMPETITION IS PHYSICAL COMBAT, AGGRESSIVE INTERACTION IS SPORT.
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is NOT typically classified as a contact sport?