athletic
Americanadjective
-
physically active and strong; good at athletics or sports.
an athletic child.
-
of, like, or befitting an athlete.
-
of or relating to athletes; involving the use of physical skills or capabilities, as strength, agility, or stamina: athletic training.
athletic sports;
athletic training.
-
for athletics.
an athletic field.
-
Psychology. (of a physical type) having a sturdy build or well-proportioned body structure.
adjective
-
physically fit or strong; muscular or active
-
of, relating to, or suitable for an athlete or for athletics
-
of or relating to a person with a muscular and well-proportioned body See also somatotype
Pronunciation
See athlete.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of athletic
First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin āthlēticus, from Greek āthlētikós; see athlete, -ic
Explanation
If you're athletic, you have a natural talent for sports and fitness. You might jump nonstop through a strenuous aerobics class, then go run a few miles, and top it off shooting hoops with the basketball team. If you're a champion speed skater, you've most definitely got an athletic build, and while skinny jeans may not look so great on you, you probably look pretty good in running shorts. You know the ancient Greeks loved athletic competitions — after all, they invented the Olympics. Fittingly enough, the word athletic goes back to the Greek word athlein, meaning "to compete for a prize."
Vocabulary lists containing athletic
Strong
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
"Going Green with Cameron Diaz"
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
SI for Kids: "Riddell Introduces InSite Impact Response System"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It helps the 25-year-old software engineer connect the dots between his work schedule and athletic performance.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026
Mr. Greene’s portrait of Jesse Owens and the Ernie Davis story are a reminder that athletic feats transcend hatred.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026
Ashton acknowledges that one of the key lessons from their previous Premier League campaign was the need to bring in more athletic players "with a different set of physical attributes".
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026
The athletic director who first agreed to Riley’s facility request, Mike Bohn, resigned.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026
He looked athletic, like a tennis player maybe, or a serious pickup b-ball player, although he was too short to play under the basket.
From "Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet" by Joanne Proulx
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
