gamesmanship

noun

games·​man·​ship ˈgāmz-mən-ˌship How to pronounce gamesmanship (audio)
1
: the art or practice of winning games by questionable expedients without actually violating the rules
2
: the use of ethically dubious methods to gain an objective

Examples of gamesmanship in a Sentence

They blur the line between gamesmanship and cheating. that author doesn't go in for literary gamesmanship, so the reader is never led astray by the novel's narrator
Recent Examples on the Web Back in the day, at least here in Harford County, gamesmanship was questioned and newspapers could sniff out the phonies. Patrick Wallis, Baltimore Sun, 24 May 2024 There were no fireworks or shocks or surprises — just an intriguing look at what happens when friendship comes up against gamesmanship. Dalton Ross, EW.com, 23 May 2024 Such unconstrained power can also contribute to partisan gamesmanship. Bryna Godar, The Conversation, 21 May 2024 The manipulation, the deception, the psychological complexity, the games, and the gamesmanship. Addie Morfoot, Variety, 8 May 2024 See all Example Sentences for gamesmanship 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gamesmanship.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

games, plural of game entry 1 + -manship (after sportsmanship)

Note: A word popularized and probably originated in this sense by the British author Stephen Potter (1900-69) in The Theory and Practice of Gamesmanship (1947).

First Known Use

1947, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of gamesmanship was in 1947

Dictionary Entries Near gamesmanship

Cite this Entry

“Gamesmanship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gamesmanship. Accessed 5 Jun. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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