athlete

American  

[ath-leet] / ˈæθ lit /

noun

1. a person trained or gifted in exercises or contests involving physical agility, stamina, or strength; a participant in a sport, exercise, or game requiring physical skill.

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athlete British  

/ ˈæθliːt /

noun

1. a person trained to compete in sports or exercises involving physical strength, speed, or endurance

2. a person who has a natural aptitude for physical activities

3. a competitor in track and field events

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Pronunciation

Athlete, athletic, and athletics, normally pronounced , , and , are heard frequently with an epenthetic schwa, an intrusive unstressed vowel inserted between the first and second syllables: , , and . The pronunciations containing the extra syllable are usually considered nonstandard, in spite of their widespread use on radio and television. Pronunciations with similarly intrusive vowels are also heard, though with less currency, for other words, as for film, for elm, and for arthritis, rather than the standard , , and .

Other Word Forms

• nonathlete
  noun
• superathlete
  noun

Etymology

Origin of athlete

1520–30; < Latin āthlēta < Greek āthlētḗs, equivalent to āthlē- (variant stem of āthleîn to contend for a prize, derivative of âthlos a contest) + -tēs suffix of agency

Explanation

An athlete is someone who trains for and competes in sporting events, as a professional or just for fun, like an athlete who bowls on a team, runs in local 5K races, or wins a gold medal at the Olympics. The noun athlete comes from the Greek word athletes, meaning “contestant in the games.” Anyone who competes in sporting competitions can be called an athlete, but usually the term is reserved for people with a high level of dedication, skill and fitness. If your income comes from participating in your sport, you are a professional athlete.

Example Sentences

The famously private athlete has not since addressed his relationship with his parents or siblings since, although reports have surfaced multiple times in the past 10 years that he was taking steps toward a reconciliation.

From MarketWatch • May 29, 2026

But it certainly provides insight into the mind of an athlete who simply cannot quit.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026

Ohanian prioritised athlete input from the outset, reaching out to individuals such as Olympic 200m champion Thomas via social media long before Athlos' inaugural season in 2024.

From BBC • May 21, 2026

Since becoming a professional athlete, Mané has also supplied the school with free laptops and internet service and paid a monthly stipend equal to Senegal’s minimum wage to each family in the town.

From Los Angeles Times • May 19, 2026

She’s a natural athlete and I’m…not a natural athlete.

From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell

Related Words

• animal
• competitor
• contestant
• jock
• player
• professional
• sport