Pilates

American  

[pi-lah-teez] / pɪˈlɑ tiz /

noun

(used with a singular verb)

1. a system of physical conditioning involving low-impact exercises and stretches designed to strengthen muscles of the torso and often performed with specialized equipment.

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Pilates British  

/ pɪˈlɑːtiːz /

noun

1. a system of gentle exercise performed lying down that stretches and lengthens the muscles, designed to improve posture, flexibility, etc

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Etymology

Origin of Pilates

Named after Joseph Pilates (1883–1967), German fitness instructor

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Pilates

The number of men doing Pilates at Life Time’s roughly 200 athletic clubs in North America, for instance, has more than doubled over the past five years.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026

“All the girls want to bring their boyfriends and husbands,” said Laura Wilson, founder of Natural Pilates, a studio in Los Angeles and New York.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026

I have been working out with the same Pilates instructor since my son was 6 weeks old, and he was born in 2008.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026

"When you're bleeding, you want to be doing steady-pace jogging, Pilates, barre, walking, resting," she tells viewers.

From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026

She didn’t usually come over in the mornings either, but Dad had a big project coming up and Mom had moved her Pilates schedule, so they said that might happen more.

From Absolutely Almost by Lisa Graff

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