breaststroke

American  

[brest-strohk, bres-] / ˈbrɛstˌstroʊk, ˈbrɛs- /

noun

1. Swimming. a stroke made in the prone position, in which both hands move simultaneously forward, outward, and rearward from in front of the chest while the legs move in a frog kick.

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verb (used without object)

breaststroked, breaststroking

1. to swim using the breaststroke.

breaststroke British  

/ ˈbrɛstˌstrəʊk /

noun

1. a swimming stroke in which the arms are extended in front of the head and swept back on either side while the legs are drawn up beneath the body and thrust back together

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• breaststroker
  noun

Etymology

Origin of breaststroke

First recorded in 1865–70; breast + stroke ¹

Explanation

The breaststroke is a swimming style that doesn't require you to turn your head or upper body. When you swim the breaststroke, your arms and legs make frog-like movements through the water. Many recreational swimmers use the breaststroke, which keeps you on your chest, popping your head straight up to take a breath between strokes. It's also the slowest competitive swimming stroke, but it still requires powerfully strong shoulders and arms. The frog kick part of the breaststroke propels you forward under water, and the arm movement happens as you come up for air.

Example Sentences

American Skylar Smith won the women's 50m breaststroke in 30.43, 33-hundredths of a second in front of reigning 100m breaststroke world champion Anna Elendt.

From Barron's • Jan. 17, 2026

She is the youngest medallist at a major international competition since Denmark's Inge Sorensen won a bronze medal in the 200m breaststroke at the 1936 Olympics, less than a month after her 12th birthday.

From BBC • Aug. 1, 2025

Senior Kenneth Devis won the 100 butterfly and 100 breaststroke for the third year in a row and led off the 4x100 freestyle relay as the Highlanders amassed 473 points to far outdistance runner-up Palisades.

From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2025

Devis has dominated his two individual events since his sophomore year and on Saturday he won the breaststroke, his favorite event, in 56.35 seconds and the butterfly in a personal-best 49.59 seconds.

From Los Angeles Times • May 11, 2025

I do the breaststroke, dipping my face in and out of the water, so I don’t have to see Ryan standing on the sand waiting for us.

From "Rules" by Cynthia Lord