sportive

[ spawr-tiv, spohr- ]
/ ˈspɔr tɪv, ˈspoʊr- /

adjective

playful or frolicsome; jesting, jocose, or merry: a sportive puppy.
done in sport, rather than in earnest: a sportive show of affection.
pertaining to or of the nature of a sport or sports.
Biology. mutative.
Archaic. ardent; wanton.

Origin of sportive

First recorded in 1580–90; sport + -ive

OTHER WORDS FROM sportive

Example sentences from the Web for sportive

British Dictionary definitions for sportive

sportive
/ (ˈspɔːtɪv) /

adjective

playful or joyous
done in jest rather than seriously
of, relating to, or interested in sports
obsolete wanton or amorous a sportive wench

Derived forms of sportive

sportively, adverb sportiveness, noun