athlete

[ath-leet]

noun

1. a person trained or gifted in exercises or contests involving physical agility, stamina, or strength; a participant in a sport, exercise, or game requiring physical skill.

athlete

/ ˈæθliːt /

noun

1. a person trained to compete in sports or exercises involving physical strength, speed, or endurance

2. a person who has a natural aptitude for physical activities

3. a competitor in track and field events

Pronunciation Note

Athlete, athletic, and athletics, normally pronounced , , and , are heard frequently with an epenthetic schwa, an intrusive unstressed vowel inserted between the first and second syllables: , , and . The pronunciations containing the extra syllable are usually considered nonstandard, in spite of their widespread use on radio and television. Pronunciations with similarly intrusive vowels are also heard, though with less currency, for other words, as for film, for elm, and for arthritis, rather than the standard , , and .

Other Word Forms

• nonathlete noun
• superathlete noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of athlete¹

1520–30; < Latin āthlēta < Greek āthlētḗs, equivalent to āthlē- (variant stem of āthleîn to contend for a prize, derivative of âthlos a contest) + -tēs suffix of agency

Word History and Origins

Origin of athlete¹

C18: from Latin via Greek athlētēs, from athlein to compete for a prize, from athlos a contest

Example Sentences

“They last a long, long time, and almost look better with each wear. That’s something that we look for as athletes, and hopefully, fans do, too.”

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However, her Olympic victory soon became tainted as the talented athlete—who was just 16 when she won her gold—grappled with alcohol addiction, entering a rehab facility in Connecticut in 1997.

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But this year, for the first time, all schools were allowed to share $20.5 million of their revenues with athletes, adding to athletic departments’ costs.

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"Now I'm able to be a full-time athlete, so I'm able to make more sacrifices regarding weight and discipline with my meals," Padley added.

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Winners also receive a crown designed by jewelers Tiffany & Co, and the athletes participate in a photoshoot before the competition.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• animal 
• competitor 
• contestant 
• jock 
• player 
• professional 
• sport