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Gamesmanship: meaning, definitions and examples

๐ŸŽฎ
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gamesmanship

 

[ หˆษกeษชmz.mษ™n.สƒษชp ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

competitive situations

Gamesmanship refers to the art of winning games by using various tactics and strategies that are often seen as clever or cunning, rather than fair or ethical. It consists of behavior that is intended to intimidate or distract an opponent, giving the practitioner a competitive edge. While gamesmanship may not always be outright cheating, it often blurs the lines of sportsmanship and fair play. This term is frequently used in the context of sports, but it can also apply to other competitive arenas such as business or academic settings.

Synonyms

cunning, manipulation, strategy, tactics

Examples of usage

  • He employed gamesmanship during the match to unsettle his opponent.
  • Her gamesmanship was evident when she made controversial remarks to distract the competitor.
  • Gamesmanship can be observed in many professional sports.
  • In negotiations, a degree of gamesmanship can lead to advantageous outcomes.

Translations

Translations of the word "gamesmanship" in other languages:

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡น jogo de cintura

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ณ เค–เฅ‡เคฒ เค•เฅŒเคถเคฒ

๐Ÿ‡ฉ๐Ÿ‡ช Spielverderberei

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ฉ permainan cerdik

๐Ÿ‡บ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ั–ะณั€ะพะฒะฐ ั…ะธั‚ั€ั–ัั‚ัŒ

๐Ÿ‡ต๐Ÿ‡ฑ spryt w grze

๐Ÿ‡ฏ๐Ÿ‡ต ใ‚ฒใƒผใƒ ใƒžใƒใ‚ธใƒกใƒณใƒˆ

๐Ÿ‡ซ๐Ÿ‡ท esprit de compรฉtition

๐Ÿ‡ช๐Ÿ‡ธ astucia en los juegos

๐Ÿ‡น๐Ÿ‡ท oyun becerisi

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ท ๊ฒŒ์ž„ ์šด์˜

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฆ ู…ู‡ุงุฑุฉ ุงู„ู„ุนุจ

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ฟ hernรญ taktika

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฐ hernรก taktika

๐Ÿ‡จ๐Ÿ‡ณ ๆธธๆˆๆŠ€ๅทง

๐Ÿ‡ธ๐Ÿ‡ฎ igralna spretnost

๐Ÿ‡ฎ๐Ÿ‡ธ leikni

๐Ÿ‡ฐ๐Ÿ‡ฟ ะพะนั‹ะฝ ัˆะตะฑะตั€ะปั–ะณั–

๐Ÿ‡ฌ๐Ÿ‡ช แƒ—แƒแƒ›แƒแƒจแƒ˜แƒก แƒฃแƒœแƒแƒ แƒ˜

๐Ÿ‡ฆ๐Ÿ‡ฟ oyun bacarฤฑฤŸฤฑ

๐Ÿ‡ฒ๐Ÿ‡ฝ destreza en el juego

Etymology

The term 'gamesmanship' was coined in the 1950s by British sports commentator Stephen Potter, who published a book titled 'Gamesmanship: The Art of Winning Games.' Potter defined gamesmanship as the cunning and artful use of tactics in competitive sports. The concept was introduced as a playful approach to competing, emphasizing that the mental aspect of competition is just as important as physical prowess. Gamesmanship reflects a shift in focus from mere physical skill to a more strategic and psychological dimension in competitive scenarios. As the term gained popularity, it became associated not just with sports but also with broader contexts, including business, politics, and personal rivalries, where strategic behavior can influence outcomes. Gamesmanship has since entered the lexicon of various competitive fields, illustrating a nuanced understanding of competition and behavior.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #36,814, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.