athlete

American  

[ath-leet] / ˈæθ lit /

noun

athletes plural

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

Derived Forms

• nonathlete
  noun
• superathlete
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• athletes
  plural

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 48-year-old former athlete was taken into custody and released the same day after posting a $5,000 bond.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 25, 2026

The indictment cites one student athlete whose test Finkelstein signed off as normal, despite indications of potential heart abnormalities.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 25, 2026

It will not be available to any athlete who commits an anti-doping violation or violates the IOC code of ethics, the conditions of participation, or the Olympic Charter.

From BBC • Jun. 24, 2026

“When you’re a professional athlete at age 18, 19 sometimes it can be difficult to keep a routine, keep a regimen that keeps you focused and keeps you hungry,” Freese said.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 23, 2026

My shoulders were starting to look like those of an athlete.

From "Flying Through Water" by Mamle Wolo

Related Words

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