discus

American  

[dis-kuhs] / ˈdɪs kəs /

noun

discuses, plural disci plural

1. a circular disk more than 7 inches (18 centimeters) in diameter and 2.2 pounds (1 kilogram) in weight, usually wooden with a metal rim and thicker in the center than at the edge, for throwing for distance in athletic competition.

2. the sport of throwing this disk for distance.

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discus British  

/ ˈdɪskəs /

noun

1. (originally) a circular stone or plate used in throwing competitions by the ancient Greeks

2. athletics

   1. a similar disc-shaped object with a heavy middle thrown by athletes

   2. ( as modifier )

      a discus thrower

3. the event or sport of throwing the discus

4. a South American cichlid fish, Symphysodon discus, that has a compressed coloured body and is a popular aquarium fish

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Usage

What does discus mean? A discus is the disk used in the track-and-field event known as discus or the discus throw—in which athletes compete to throw it as far as they can. The plural can be discuses or disci (which follows the same pluralization pattern found in other Latin-derived words, like alumnus and its plural, alumni). In competition, men typically use discuses that have a diameter of about 8. 6 inches (22 cm) and weigh about 4. 4 pounds (2 kg), while those used by women have a diameter of about 7 inches (18 cm) and weigh about 2. 2 pounds (1 kg). They are usually made of wood with a metal rim. Discus is one of the “field” events in track and field, which also include other events in which objects are thrown as far as possible, namely shot put and javelin. All three are events in the summer Olympic Games (the Summer Games) and are also events in the modern decathlon. Discus was one of the events in the ancient Greek Olympic Games. Example: Discus is one of my favorite track-and-field events because it was part of the ancient Olympic Games. 

Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• discuses
  plural
• disci
  plural

Etymology

Origin of discus

First recorded in 1650–60; from Latin, from Greek dískos “a quoit, discus, disk,” derivative of diskeîn “to throw”

Explanation

Discus is the track and field sport in which athletes throw a heavy, circular plate, also known as a discus. Imagine a Frisbee, but much heavier — that's what a discus is like. To throw it, an athlete spins around in a circle to "wind up" before flinging the discus as hard as she can. It must land in a certain area, and the thrower whose discus has traveled farthest wins. Discus means "disc" in Greek, and this sport was included in the original Ancient Greek Olympics.

Example Sentences

His best efforts were 51-10 in the shotput and 145-7 in the discus.

From Los Angeles Times • May 17, 2026

Roje Stona, who won Olympic men's discus gold for Jamaica in 2024, was also one of the group.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

Her attorney, Joshua Block of the American Civil Liberties Union, said she has been winning in the shot put and discus “through hard work and practice.”

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 13, 2026

West Virginia says last spring “B.P.J. bumped female competitors out of the state tournament, then placed third in the State in discus and eighth in shot put.”

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 11, 2026

When she hits her release right, the discus soars, but once in a while she gets turned around and sends it off in the wrong direction.

From "The Running Dream" by Wendelin Van Draanen

Related Words

• disc
• plate
• platter