archery
Americannoun
-
the art, practice, or skill of an archer.
-
archers collectively, as in an army.
-
the equipment of an archer, as bows and arrows.
noun
-
the art or sport of shooting with bows and arrows
-
archers or their weapons collectively
Etymology
Origin of archery
1350–1400; Middle English archerye < Middle French archerie, equivalent to arch ( i ) er archer + -ie -y 3
Explanation
If you like to shoot arrows at a target with a bow, you're a fan of archery. Athletes who compete in archery are called archers. If you decide to try archery, you'll need a bow and some arrows, and ideally a target. These days, archery is mainly a hobby or a sport, but archery was originally a way for people to hunt for food or defend themselves from enemies. In Anglo-French, the word is archerye, from the Latin root arcus, or "bow."
Vocabulary lists containing archery
Vocabulary of the Summer Olympics
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Should girls be allowed to join the boy scouts? 10 Vocab Words
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for July 19–July 25, 2026
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Keeleigh now campaigns for organ donation and has competed in the British Transplant Games and international events, winning gold medals in events including shot put, archery and discus.
From BBC ● Sep. 26, 2026
At Camp Golden Eagle, in Woodruff, Wis., all the usual activities were ours: baseball, archery, canoeing, swimming.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026
"Members of the royal family, especially the women, were active participants in skilled, physically demanding activities such as archery and hunting," said Dr. Zeinab Hashesh, lead author of the article in Frontiers in Environmental Archaeology.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 30, 2026
While the Olympics have recently added skateboarding, surfing and breakdancing, the Commonwealths - with India having a big say - look set to reintroduce cricket, shooting, archery and hockey.
From BBC ● Aug. 2, 2026
Here too were the archery butts where men of age were required, by King Edward’s decree, to practice every Sunday.
From "Crispin: The Cross of Lead" by Avi
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.
