athleisure

American  

[ath-lee-zher, ‐lezh-er] / æθˈli ʒər, ‐leʒ ər /

noun

1. a style of clothing worn as athletic apparel but also suitable for casual, everyday wear.

   Athleisure looks great whether you're working out or just running errands.

---

Etymology

Origin of athleisure

First recorded in 1975–80; ath(letics) ( def. ) + leisure ( def. )

Explanation

For those who like to go straight from the grocery store or library to the gym, athleisure is the fashion trend of choice. Athleisure clothing can be worn for both athletic activities and casual, everyday outings. Athleisure is a portmanteau of athletic and leisure, representing a style that bridges the gap between functional sportswear and casual, everyday attire. Leggings, fitted sweatpants, performance polo shirts, and sporty-looking sneakers are common athleisure items. The defining characteristic of athleisure is that it combines comfort and technical performance (like stretch and breathability) with style — e.g., trendy colors and a more tailored look. Athleisure is even becoming common at the office.

Example Sentences

Costco sells its own private-label athleisure products with a similar comfortable and flattering fit at a fraction of the price.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

If I need to get athleisure wear, I always go to Nike.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 6, 2026

Lululemon Athletica Inc. is now selling heart-shaped charms, alligator clips, keychains and other accessories to complement its lines of yogawear and athleisure apparel.

From MarketWatch • Jan. 29, 2026

And Wall Street long has fretted that the athleisure category as a whole is on the losing side of a return to casual dressing and less momentum for loungewear and other of Lululemon’s specialties.

From MarketWatch • Dec. 11, 2025

Much of Lululemon’s growth has happened on McDonald’s watch, and the brand still dominates the athleisure market it helped create.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 29, 2025