gamesmanship

noun

games·​man·​ship ˈgāmz-mən-ˌship How to pronounce gamesmanship (audio)
Synonyms of gamesmanshipnext
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

Synonyms of gamesmanship

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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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
But the hamstring injury to the star outside linebacker is severe enough that Carolina Panthers head coach Dave Canales didn’t entertain such gamesmanship. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2026 Whatever higher purpose goes along with espionage work tends to be lost in the gamesmanship and cynicism that seems to come with the territory. — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2026 The focus on metrics also highlights the challenges of measuring the performance of large language models using standardized benchmark tests and concerns that the specs are prone to manipulation and gamesmanship. — Emily Forlini, Fortune, 5 Sep. 2026 In fact, McVay playing coy could just be gamesmanship for his respected colleague and fellow head coach, Kyle Shanahan. — Scott Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 4 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gamesmanship

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

Rhymes for gamesmanship

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Browse Nearby Words

gamesman
gamesmanship
games master
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Cite this Entry

“Gamesmanship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gamesmanship. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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