athlete

[ ath-leet ]

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.

athlete

/ 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

Pronunciation Note

Athlete, athletic, and athletics, normally pronounced [ath, -leet], [ath-, let, -ik], and [ath-, let, -iks], are heard frequently with an epenthetic schwa, an intrusive unstressed vowel inserted between the first and second syllables: [ath, -, uh, -leet], [ath-, uh, -, let, -ik], and [ath-, uh, -, let, -iks]. 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 [fil, -, uh, m] for film, [el, -, uh, m] for elm, and [ahr-th, uh, -, rahy, -tis] for arthritis, rather than the standard [film], [elm], and [ahr-, thrahy, -tis].

Other Words From

• non·athlete noun
• super·athlete noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of athlete¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of athlete¹

C18: from Latin via Greek athlētēs, from athlein to compete for a prize, from athlos a contest

Example Sentences

Where a fan 10 years ago had a coin-flip chance of attending a fracas, the modern-day one has less than a 17 percent chance of watching athletes drop the mitts.

From FiveThirtyEight

Ash, who often interacts and streams with fans on social media, has seen the number of esports athletes increase both in Pakistan and globally.

From Ozy

Neck gaiters, buffs—whatever you call them, the jersey-type loops of fabric that can be worn around the neck and over the face and nose—have been a favorite of athletes during the Covid-19 pandemic.

From Quartz

Effectively, the ruling meant that clubs and teams in EU countries could sign players from nations that have free trade agreements with the bloc, without treating them as overseas athletes.

From Ozy

At the university level, students have more power as paying customers — and athletes in particular as revenue generators.

From Ozy

Nowhere to be found is the anguish, the drama, the pain of an athlete on that level who considering walking away.

From The Daily Beast

In 87 Bounces, a lone athlete shoots an airball that goes on a journey through some of the most memorable films in cinema history.

From The Daily Beast

But I guess you have to regard him as a great athlete who never grew up.

From The Daily Beast

But I think that the more important question is will I see a benefit as an athlete?

From The Daily Beast

What if I were a kid who looked up to an athlete, and that athlete made me want to do better in my own life, and then he left?

From The Daily Beast

Sometimes this cup was won by a middle-aged man, sometimes by a girl, and sometimes by a trained athlete.

From Project Gutenberg

More than ordinarily tall, she was shaped like a Juno, and moved with all the grace and freedom of an athlete.

From Project Gutenberg

Suddenly the man, with the strength and ease of an athlete, sprang lightly out on to the roof.

From Project Gutenberg

His blue flannel suit hung loose on his shoulders and chest, his athlete's limbs.

From Project Gutenberg

Mr. Norcross stands six feet two in his socks, and I've heard that he was the best all-around athlete in his college bunch.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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