athletic
Americanadjective
-
physically active and strong; good at athletics or sports.
an athletic child.
-
of, like, or befitting an athlete.
-
of or relating to athletes; involving the use of physical skills or capabilities, as strength, agility, or stamina: athletic training.
athletic sports;
athletic training.
-
for athletics.
an athletic field.
-
Psychology. (of a physical type) having a sturdy build or well-proportioned body structure.
adjective
-
physically fit or strong; muscular or active
-
of, relating to, or suitable for an athlete or for athletics
-
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
Explanation
If you're athletic, you have a natural talent for sports and fitness. You might jump nonstop through a strenuous aerobics class, then go run a few miles, and top it off shooting hoops with the basketball team. If you're a champion speed skater, you've most definitely got an athletic build, and while skinny jeans may not look so great on you, you probably look pretty good in running shorts. You know the ancient Greeks loved athletic competitions — after all, they invented the Olympics. Fittingly enough, the word athletic goes back to the Greek word athlein, meaning "to compete for a prize."
Vocabulary lists containing athletic
"Going Green with Cameron Diaz"
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Strong
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
SI for Kids: "Riddell Introduces InSite Impact Response System"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
In effect, the Big Ten isn’t just thinking about itself as an athletic conference, but as a distribution network.
From MarketWatch • Apr. 7, 2026
In a tribute to Noah issued via police, his family described him as a "fun, bright, handsome, athletic" boy who was "incredibly well-liked".
From BBC • Apr. 6, 2026
So what might happen if athletic departments lost their tax-exempt, charitable status?
From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026
It was there that his athletic skills got him noticed by the Eastern Arizona College football coach.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 30, 2026
Ma’s tall, athletic form almost fills my doorway.
From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer
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.
