athletic
Americanadjective
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physically active and strong; good at athletics or sports.
an athletic child.
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of, like, or befitting an athlete.
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of or relating to athletes; involving the use of physical skills or capabilities, as strength, agility, or stamina: athletic training.
athletic sports;
athletic training.
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for athletics.
an athletic field.
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Psychology. (of a physical type) having a sturdy build or well-proportioned body structure.
adjective
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physically fit or strong; muscular or active
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of, relating to, or suitable for an athlete or for athletics
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of or relating to a person with a muscular and well-proportioned body See also somatotype
Pronunciation
See athlete.
Other Word Forms
- athletically adverb
- athleticism noun
- nonathletic adjective
- nonathletically adverb
- quasi-athletic adjective
- quasi-athletically adverb
- unathletic adjective
- unathletically adverb
Etymology
Origin of athletic
First recorded in 1595–1605; from Latin āthlēticus, from Greek āthlētikós; athlete, -ic
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
For example, it can reduce the benefits of endurance training and negatively affect athletic performance.
From Science Daily • Mar. 27, 2026
For example, the entire Ohio State University football roster received “around $20 million” in NIL deals in 2024, according to the school’s athletic director, Ross Bjork.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 25, 2026
The comments came shortly after Brady went on Paul’s “Impaulsive” podcast and told the WWE star in no uncertain terms that he was not on the same athletic level as NFL players.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 20, 2026
Victoria Henson, who now works as an athletic coordinator, helping arrange travel and hotels, remembers the lowest moments, when everyone wanted to kick her basketball team when it was down.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 19, 2026
It happened that soon after their arrival Perseus heard that the King of Larissa, in the North, was holding a great athletic contest, and he journeyed there to take part.
From "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes" by Edith Hamilton
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
