pentathlon

American  

[pen-tath-luhn, -lon] / pɛnˈtæθ lən, -lɒn /

noun

1. an athletic contest comprising five different track and field events and won by the contestant gaining the highest total score.

2. modern pentathlon.

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pentathlon British  

/ pɛnˈtæθlən /

noun

1. an athletic contest consisting of five different events, based on a competition in the ancient Greek Olympics Compare decathlon

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Usage

What is the pentathlon? A pentathlon is an athletic competition in which athletes compete in five different events. There are different versions of pentathlons involving different events. The event known as the modern pentathlon (or sometimes the military pentathlon) is a multisport competition that includes épée fencing, a freestyle swim, equestrian jumping, and an event that combines a cross-country run with pistol target-shooting. The modern pentathlon is an event at the Summer Olympic Games. There are also track-and-field competitions known as pentathlons that usually include long jump, high jump, shot put, a sprint with hurdles, and a longer race. (A similar competition with two additional events is called a heptathlon.)The pentathlon dates back to the ancient Greek Olympic Games. The traditional pentathlon events include running, long jump, discus, javelin, and wrestling. Events in pentathlons are usually spread out (unlike endurance competitions such as triathlons, in which the events happen directly after one another). In pentathlons, winning is based on a point system. Athletes who participate in a pentathlon can be called pentathletes. Example: Most athletes are specialists—devoting all of their training to a single sport—but competing in a pentathlon requires mastery of multiple sports.

Other Word Forms

• pentathlete
  noun

Etymology

Origin of pentathlon

1700–10; < Greek pénthāthlon, equivalent to pent- pent- ( def. ) + âthlon contest

Explanation

A pentathlon is a sports competition with five events, designed to test an athlete's skills and endurance across multiple challenges. The word pentathlon is a combination of two Greek words: pente, meaning "five," and athlon, meaning "competition." The first pentathlon was held in Ancient Greece as a part of the Olympics. It combined sprinting, jumping, discus throwing, javelin throwing, and wrestling. The pentathlon is still part of the modern Olympics: It includes swimming, fencing, shooting, and running, and while it traditionally included equestrian show jumping, the sport is transitioning to include obstacle course racing instead. Athletes who compete in pentathlons are known as pentathletes.

Example Sentences

Hedge funds and algorithmic traders have fairly modest positions in oil futures, said Ilia Bouchouev, managing partner of Pentathlon Investments.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 14, 2026

The Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne confirmed in a statement that Raisner was disqualified.

From Fox News • Aug. 14, 2021

He said his interpreters all bone up before the Olympics, studying the nuances of judo or the vagaries of Modern Pentathlon.

From Seattle Times • Jul. 30, 2021

“We are absolutely convinced they are the complete athlete of the games,” said Joel Bouzou of the Union Internationale de Pentathlon Moderne, the sport’s governing body.

From New York Times • Aug. 12, 2012

"That's the Pentathlon man from Fenton," he said to Merrihew.

From Dick Randall The Young Athlete by Clark, Ellery H.