Ever typed sportswear and paused? Wondered if it should be two words - ‘sport wear’ - or hyphenated like ‘sport’s-wear’? You’re not alone. This isn’t just about grammar. It’s about how language evolves when function meets fashion.
It’s One Word - And Here’s Why
Sportswear is one word. Always has been, since the 1930s. No hyphen. No space. Just sportswear, stuck together like the leggings you pull on before a morning run. Dictionaries agree: Merriam-Webster, Oxford, and Cambridge all list it as a single entry. It’s not a mistake. It’s standard.
Think of it like ‘toothpaste’ or ‘sunscreen’. You don’t write ‘tooth paste’ when you’re brushing your teeth, right? Same logic. ‘Sport’ and ‘wear’ merged because they stopped being two separate ideas and became one thing - clothing designed for movement, sweat, and performance.
How Did It Become One Word?
Language doesn’t stay still. Words fuse when people use them often enough. Back in the 1920s and 30s, athletes started wearing specialized clothing - not just regular shirts and shorts. Brands like Adidas and Nike began making gear that hugged the body, wicked moisture, and allowed freedom. People needed a quick way to talk about it.
Soon, ‘sport wear’ became ‘sportswear’ in ads, magazines, and store signs. By the 1950s, it was common in American and British English. The shift wasn’t forced by a rulebook. It happened because it was easier. Faster. More natural.
Today, if you walk into any major retailer - whether it’s Decathlon in Wellington, Lululemon in New York, or JD Sports in London - you’ll find a section labeled ‘Sportswear’. Not ‘Sport Wear’. Not ‘Sport’s Wear’. Just one word.
What About ‘Athletic Wear’?
You might hear ‘athletic wear’ used interchangeably. And technically, it’s correct. But here’s the catch: ‘athletic wear’ is two words because it’s a phrase, not a compound noun. ‘Sportswear’ is a single term with its own history and meaning.
‘Athletic wear’ is more descriptive - it tells you what it’s for. ‘Sportswear’ is the brand name for the category. Think of it like ‘smartphone’ versus ‘smart phone’. One is a product name. The other is a description.
And while ‘athletic wear’ is perfectly fine in casual speech, if you’re writing product descriptions, marketing copy, or even shopping online, ‘sportswear’ is the term that’ll get you the right results.
Why Does This Even Matter?
It matters because language shapes how we find things. If you search for ‘sport wear’ on Amazon or Google, you’ll get fewer results. You might even see products labeled as ‘sportswear’ with a note saying ‘Did you mean: sportswear?’
For brands, getting the spelling right affects SEO, inventory tagging, and customer trust. A website that says ‘sport wear’ looks outdated. Or worse - like it doesn’t know its own industry.
And for you? If you’re shopping, writing a resume, or just trying to sound confident about your gear, using the right word matters. It’s not about being picky. It’s about being clear.
Common Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
Here are the three most common errors people make:
- Sport wear - Two words. Incorrect for the compound noun.
- Sport’s wear - Apostrophe. Wrong. This implies ownership, like ‘the sport’s uniform’. That’s not what it means.
- Sportswear - One word. Correct. Always.
Here’s a trick to remember: if you can replace it with ‘athletic clothing’ and the sentence still works, then you’re using the right term. But if you’re naming the category - like on a website or in a store - go with sportswear.
Real-World Examples
Look around you:
- Under Armour’s website? ‘Sportswear’ in the main menu.
- Adidas product filters? ‘Sportswear’ category.
- The New York Times style guide? ‘Sportswear’ is the preferred spelling.
- Your local gym’s signage? ‘Sportswear’ on the rack.
Even in New Zealand, where we say ‘jandals’ instead of ‘flip-flops’, we still say ‘sportswear’. It’s not a regional quirk. It’s global standard.
What About Other Languages?
English isn’t the only language that merged these words. German has ‘Sportbekleidung’. French uses ‘vêtements de sport’ - two words. But in English, we compacted it. We always have. ‘Notebook’, ‘toothbrush’, ‘fireplace’ - all one word now.
English loves efficiency. And ‘sportswear’ is just the latest example of that tendency.
Final Answer: Yes, It’s One Word
Sportswear is one word. No debate. No exceptions. It’s not a typo. It’s not slang. It’s the official, dictionary-approved, industry-standard term used by brands, retailers, and consumers worldwide.
So next time you’re typing it, don’t hesitate. Don’t overthink. Just write it as one word - sportswear - and move on. Your fingers will thank you. So will your search results.
Is sportswear one word or two?
Sportswear is one word. It’s a compound noun that has been standardized in English since the 1930s. Dictionaries like Merriam-Webster and Oxford list it as a single entry. Writing it as two words - ‘sport wear’ - is incorrect in formal, commercial, and technical contexts.
Can I use ‘athletic wear’ instead of sportswear?
Yes, you can use ‘athletic wear’ - it means the same thing and is grammatically correct as a phrase. But ‘sportswear’ is the preferred term in retail, branding, and online searches. If you’re shopping online or writing product descriptions, ‘sportswear’ will give you better results and sound more professional.
Why do some people write ‘sport’s wear’?
That’s a common mistake. Adding an apostrophe suggests possession - like ‘the sport’s equipment’. But sportswear isn’t owned by sport. It’s clothing designed for sport. The apostrophe is wrong and makes the term look unprofessional. Always skip it.
Is sportswear the same as activewear?
They’re very similar, but not exactly the same. Sportswear refers to clothing made for specific sports - running, tennis, basketball. Activewear is broader - it includes yoga pants, gym shorts, and even casual pieces worn for light movement. Activewear often blurs into lifestyle fashion. Sportswear stays focused on performance.
Does the spelling change in British vs American English?
No. Both British and American English use ‘sportswear’ as one word. You might see slight differences in other terms - like ‘tights’ vs ‘leggings’ - but the spelling of ‘sportswear’ is identical on both sides of the Atlantic.