athletic
Americanadjective
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physically active and strong; good at athletics or sports.
an athletic child.
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of, like, or befitting an athlete.
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of or relating to athletes; involving the use of physical skills or capabilities, as strength, agility, or stamina: athletic training.
athletic sports;
athletic training.
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for athletics.
an athletic field.
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Psychology. (of a physical type) having a sturdy build or well-proportioned body structure.
adjective
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physically fit or strong; muscular or active
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of, relating to, or suitable for an athlete or for athletics
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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
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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.
Just three days later a takeover led by Dunfermline Athletic owner James Bord collapsed, leaving Wednesday in limbo.
From BBC • May 2, 2026
An investigation by The Athletic found that hotel room prices in Houston jumped 457 percent for the Texas city's first World Cup fixture, compared to 198 percent in Philadelphia.
From Barron's • Apr. 29, 2026
Last season: The All-American Athletic Conference selection started 11 games at right tackle and was the 11th highest-rated offensive tackle in the FBS by Pro Football Focus.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 25, 2026
Edin Terzic - a contender for the Athletic Bilbao vacancy, Alonso and Cesc Fabregas may also emerge as candidates, while the club are mindful of Howe's potential availability this summer.
From BBC • Apr. 23, 2026
In the morning they would open their headquarters at the Washington Athletic Club, name a chairman, and set up teams.
From "The Boys in the Boat: Nine Americans and Their Epic Quest for Gold at the 1936 Berlin Olympics" by Daniel James Brown
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.
