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nonsports

(chiefly, US) Not related to or concerned with sports.

ˈnɑnˌspɔɹtsDocumented since 1980s1980sGen Xhistorical130 viewsLast reviewed Jun 29, 2026+ Add a definition
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Born ~1980 · no dated citations yet
1980BornToday, 2026

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Global
#1·Apr 27, 2026Global

(chiefly, US) Not related to or concerned with sports.

For parents

"nonsports" means not related to or concerned with sports. It is one of many casual words teens pick up from friends, social media, music or sport, and on its own it carries no particular warning. If you hear your teen use it, it is fair to ask what they mean by it in their friend group, since meanings drift quickly. Asking out of curiosity rather than alarm tends to keep the conversation open and useful.

For ESL learners

"nonsports" is informal English meaning not related to or concerned with sports. It is mainly used in North American English. A more formal or neutral equivalent would be something like "not related to or concerned with sports" expressed in standard vocabulary. A common mistake is to assume "nonsports" can replace its standard equivalent in every register; keep it for spoken or casual situations and use the formal form in writing. If you are a B2 or C1 learner, it is useful to recognise this word when you hear or read it, but think carefully about whether the situation really calls for it before using it yourself.

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For specific readers

"nonsports" means not related to or concerned with sports. It is one of many casual words teens pick up from friends, social media, music or sport, and on its own it carries no particular warning. If you hear your teen use it, it is fair to ask what they mean by it in their friend group, since meanings drift quickly. Asking out of curiosity rather than alarm tends to keep the conversation open and useful.

Why is this section here?

Slang is read by different audiences for very different reasons. The For parents view re-explains the term in plain, non-judgemental language so a caregiver can understand what their child means without needing the surrounding subculture. The For English learners view focuses on register (when it's safe to use), formal alternatives, and common mistakes — what a textbook won't teach you.

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Regional slang from around the English-speaking world — British, Australian, Irish, Caribbean, Nigerian, Filipino, AAVE, and the hyphenated-English dialects that make the internet sound local.

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