different between humorous vs sporting

English

Etymology

From Middle English humorous (compare Medieval Latin h?mor?sus), equivalent to humor +? -ous.

Pronunciation

• (UK) enPR: hyo?o'm?r?s, IPA^(key): /?hju?m???s/
• (US) IPA^(key): /?hju?m???s/
• Homophone: humerus

Adjective

humorous (comparative more humorous, superlative most humorous)

1. Full of humor or arousing laughter; funny.

   The waiters were so humorous - one even did a backflip for us, when we asked him.

2. Showing humor; witty, jocular.
3. (obsolete) Damp or watery.
4. (obsolete) Dependent on or caused by one's humour or mood; capricious, whimsical.

Usage notes

While the spelling humour is preferred over humor in British English, humorous is standard in both American and British English, and humourous is nonstandard.

Synonyms

• (arousing laughter): amusing, funny
• (witty): amusing, jocular, witty
• See also Thesaurus:funny
• See also Thesaurus:witty

Derived terms

• humorously

Related terms

• humor, humour

Translations

English

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?sp??t??/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?sp??t??/
• (rhotic, without the horse–hoarse merger) IPA^(key): /?spo(?)?t??/
• (non-rhotic, without the horse–hoarse merger) IPA^(key): /?spo?t??/
• Rhymes: -??(?)t??

Verb

sporting

1. present participle of sport

Adjective

sporting (comparative more sporting, superlative most sporting)

1. (not comparable) Pertaining to sports

   He got a job in a sporting goods store.

2. (comparable) Exhibiting sportsmanship.

   Quite sporting of you to call that foul on yourself.

3. (comparable) Fair, generous; ‘game’.

   It was very sporting of her to let us off like that.

4. (not comparable, obsolete) Of or relating to unseemly male excesses, especially gambling, prostitution, or similar recreational activities.

Derived terms

• sporting goods
• sporting house
• sporting chance

Translations

Noun

sporting (plural sportings)

1. The act of taking part in a sport.

Anagrams

• ringpost, ringspot