sportive

UK: /ˈspɔːtɪv/ US: (spôr′tiv, spōr′-)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

spor•tive  (spôr′tiv, spōr′-), adj. 

1. playful or frolicsome;
   jesting, jocose, or merry:
   a sportive puppy.
2. done in sport, rather than in earnest:
   a sportive show of affection.
3. Sport pertaining to or of the nature of a sport or sports.
4. [Biol.] mutative.
5. [Archaic.] ardent;
   wanton.

• sport + -ive 1580–90

spor′tive•ly, adv. 
spor′tive•ness*  [Archaic.] sport′a•bil′i•ty, n. 
Synonyms

• 1. jocular, gay, sprightly, frisky.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

sportive / ˈspɔːtɪv/ adjective

1. playful or joyous
2. done in jest rather than seriously

ˈsportively adverb

ˈsportiveness noun