sports drink
noun
: a drink that consists mainly of water, electrolytes (such as sodium or potassium), and carbohydrates (such as sucrose or fructose) and that is designed to replenish those substances in the body during or after usually strenuous exercise
"Dan was with me the whole day," Huard said after the game, while sipping a sports drink to combat dehydration.—Peter King
Sports drinks such as Gatorade or Powerade should generally be avoided in favor of water unless you're doing an intense workout. That's because some sports drinks contain more than 30 grams of added sugar …, and you may not need its carb- and electrolyte-heavy fuel if you're just going for a 45-minute easy ride.—Danielle Zickl
Cite this Entry
“Sports drink.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/sports%20drink. Accessed 31 Oct. 2026.
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