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

Example Sentences

Both schools will have plenty of athletes competing in the Arcadia Invitational on April 11.

From Los Angeles Times

Analysts have debated the state of Nike’s efforts to cut costs, make more products that suit athletes’ needs, and push further into running shoes and women’s apparel.

From MarketWatch

This Netflix documentary revisits the 2022 murder of a talented athlete, with director Marina Zenovich creating a sensitive portrait of the life lost and the grief of others in its wake.

From The Wall Street Journal

"The investigations were launched due to the immense media storm around the case, solely because of the involvement of the defendant, who is a world-renowned athlete," Neymar's legal team said.

From Barron's

We watch our hero athletes handle all that pressure on the field, and they make it seem effortless.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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