GAMESMANSHIP Meaning and
Definition
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Gamesmanship refers to the practice of using unscrupulous or manipulative tactics to gain an advantage in competitive situations, particularly in sports or other competitive contexts. The term is derived from the word "game" and emphasizes the strategic aspects of competition rather than fair play.
Gamesmanship involves employing psychological tactics, verbal tricks, or other deceptive strategies to unsettle opponents and disrupt their performance. It often includes actions such as psychological intimidation, trash-talking, feigning injuries, exploiting rule loopholes, or engaging in strategic time-wasting. The aim is not only to gain an advantage but also to undermine an opponent's confidence and concentration.
This concept differs from sportsmanship, which promotes fair play, ethical behavior, and respect for opponents. Gamesmanship focuses solely on gaining an edge, even if it means bending or breaking the rules. It exploits the gray areas of competition to manipulate opponents, referees, or the overall game circumstances.
The term "gamesmanship" was coined by the British author Stephen Potter in the 1940s. His book, "The Theory and Practice of Gamesmanship: The Art of Winning Games without Actually Cheating," delved into the psychological strategies and tactics employed in various games.
Overall, gamesmanship can be seen as a shrewd and cunning approach to competition that prioritizes victory over fairness. While it may yield short-term advantages, it is often frowned upon and deemed unsportsmanlike due to its disregard for the spirit of true competition.
Top Common Misspellings for GAMESMANSHIP *
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
Other Common Misspellings for GAMESMANSHIP
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Etymology of GAMESMANSHIP
The word "gamesmanship" is derived from the combination of "game" and "manship", where "manship" is a suffix that adds the meaning of "skill" or "art". The term was coined by Stephen Potter, an English writer, in his book "The Theory and Practice of Gamesmanship: Or the Art of Winning Games without Actually Cheating" published in 1947. Potter used the term to describe a style of playing games in which the player uses various psychological techniques and strategies to gain an advantage over their opponents. The term has since been widely adopted and used to refer to the art or practice of winning games by means that are not explicitly against the rules.
Similar spelling word for GAMESMANSHIP
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