acrobat

American  

[ak-ruh-bat] / ˈæk rəˌbæt /

noun

acrobats plural

1. a skilled performer of gymnastic feats, as walking on a tightrope or swinging on a trapeze.

2. a person who readily changes viewpoints or opinions.

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acrobat British  

/ ˈækrəˌbæt /

noun

1. an entertainer who performs acts that require skill, agility, and coordination, such as tumbling, swinging from a trapeze, or walking a tightrope

2. a person noted for his frequent and rapid changes of position or allegiances

   a political acrobat

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• acrobatic
  adjective
• acrobatically
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• acrobats
  plural

Etymology

Origin of acrobat

First recorded in 1815–25; from French acrobate, from Greek akróbatos “walking on tiptoe,” equivalent to akro- prefix meaning “height, extremity” + -batos, verbal adjective of baínein “to go”; the French word may be a recoinage, or an etymological reading of the Greek word; see acro-

Explanation

An acrobat is someone who skillfully performs gymnastic feats or other actions that involve agility and balance, such as a trapeze artist soaring through the air, or a tightrope walker at the circus. You may be tempted to conclude that the bat in acrobat is a tribute to the animal that soars through the air when not hanging upside down. The source is not quite that creative. It comes from bainein, which is Greek for "to walk." The acro bit comes from akros, meaning "highest point." So acrobat is a reference to the classic and possibly first trick perfected by these artists, tightrope walking.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

acrobat acrobats

“They used me as a model in their diving program,” says Louganis, who trained as an acrobat and dancer as a child before moving to diving.

From Salon ● Aug. 10, 2024

But the first visitor it recorded was dangling from its hind legs like a Squirrel du Soleil acrobat feasting on the bird seed.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 26, 2024

The acrobat, in his 20s, fell while riding the "wheel of death" apparatus at the Hippodrome Circus in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, on Wednesday evening.

From BBC ● Dec. 14, 2023

Stanley rode a circus-style acrobat harness out over the crowd to a satellite stage to sing three songs near the end of the show.

From Seattle Times ● Dec. 3, 2023

“You was a proper little acrobat, too, love,” said the older shadow, “now I think back.”

From "Black Swan Green" by David Mitchell

On Tuesday, the British band are taking to the stage in Cardiff as they return with their rebooted Circus Live tour, complete with acrobats, ringmasters, tightrope walkers, and even a mechanical elephant.

From BBC ● Jun. 16, 2026

Now carrying the family’s torch is the fifth generation of tumbling acrobats skilled in the art of balance and flexibility.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 19, 2026

That word came up many times during the show’s first audition rounds as dancers, singers, magicians, acrobats and a contortionist took the stage.

From Salon ● May 31, 2025

Like acrobats, the crew scurried up the masts to the upper topgallant sails that rose nearly 200 feet above us.

From New York Times ● Jun. 3, 2024

I pass food stalls and dance stages, jugglers and fire-eaters, acrobats, Kehannis, singers, and players.

From "An Ember in the Ashes" by Sabaa Tahir

Related Words

• clown
• dancer
• gymnast
• performer
• tumbler