spectator sport

noun

1
: a sport (such as football, baseball, ice hockey, etc.) that many people watch
2
: something that people watch other people do without becoming involved themselves
For many, politics has become a spectator sport.

Examples of spectator sport in a Sentence

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.
The city is teeming with wildlife, and taking it in is a spectator sport. — Abbey Hudetz, Travel + Leisure, 16 Apr. 2026 Tennis is unlike any other spectator sport. — Rachel Chang, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 June 2026 Or at least until more realize that dinner is not a spectator sport, and that the best sound at a restaurant is still the person sitting across from you. — Allyson Reedy, Denver Post, 13 May 2026 Social media has turned the production itself into a spectator sport. — Clara Molot, Vanity Fair, 16 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for spectator sport

Rhymes for spectator sport

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Browse Nearby Words

spectatorship
spectator sport
spectatory
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Cite this Entry

“Spectator sport.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/spectator%20sport. Accessed 9 Jul. 2026.

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