stamina

¹

[stam-uh-nuh]

noun

1. strength of physical constitution; power to endure disease, fatigue, privation, etc.

stamina

²

[stam-uh-nuh]

noun

1. a plural of stamen.

stamina

¹

/ ˈstæmɪnə /

noun

1. enduring energy, strength, and resilience

stamina

²

/ ˈstæmɪnə /

noun

1. a plural of stamen

Other Word Forms

• staminal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of stamina¹

1535–45; < Latin, plural of stāmen thread ( stamen ); i.e., the life-threads spun by the Fates

Word History and Origins

Origin of stamina¹

C19: identical with _stamina ² from Latin stāmen thread, hence the threads of life spun out by the Fates, hence energy, etc

Example Sentences

Russian officials insist that they can wage war forever, outlasting the stamina of their opponents.

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That’s how you increase your physical fitness, build your mental stamina and improve your target heart rate.

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She is often asked to gauge the ability of actors to take on a certain role — their ease with the material, their physical stamina, their level of independence and their emotional accessibility.

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This leads to improved stamina, better blood pressure, and healthier cholesterol levels.

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While older entrepreneurs might have lost some stamina, age has benefits.

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Related Words

• endurance 
• energy 
• fortitude 
• grit 
• resilience 
• staying power 
• vitality 

When To Use

What does stamina mean?

Stamina is endurance—the strength or energy to keep going, even when tired or facing other unfavorable conditions.The word is most commonly used in the context of sports to refer to the ability to continue performing despite fatigue. Athletes train to improve their stamina.Stamina is also the plural form of the word stamen, which is the part of a flower that produces pollen. Interestingly, both senses of the word are based on the same Latin root.Example: A lot of players are fast and strong, but it’s the ones who have worked to increase their stamina who are most effective at the end of a long game.