athletics

American  

[ath-let-iks] / æθˈlɛt ɪks /

noun

1. (usually used with a plural verb) athletic sports, as running, rowing, or boxing.

2. British. track-and-field events.

3. (usually used with a singular verb) the practice of athletic exercises; the principles of athletic training.

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athletics British  

/ æθˈlɛtɪks /

noun

1. 1. track and field events

   2. ( as modifier )

      an athletics meeting

2. sports or exercises engaged in by athletes

3. the theory or practice of athletic activities and training

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Pronunciation

See athlete.

Etymology

Origin of athletics

First recorded in 1595–1605; see origin at athletic, -ics

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Explanation

Use the noun athletics to talk about sports, including team practice, games, and training. A serious baseball player might choose a college based on its athletics program. In Britain, the word athletics specifically refers to track and field competitions, such as long-distance running, high jump, and javelin. In the US, you can use the word to talk about any kind of sporty activity. The noun athletics comes from the adjective athletic, based on the model of gymnastics. The Greek root is athletes, "prizefighter" or "contestant in the games."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

athletics

The university had long spent more than it brought in, driven by rising athletics costs, pandemic expenses and major legal settlements.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026

He would include “protecting athletics funding, football in particular, making new partnerships with Navy to serve the district’s needs, and growing the partnership with law enforcement.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

Unlike university sports in most countries, American college athletics is a vast commercial enterprise.

From Barron's ● Sep. 29, 2026

Direct compensation removes the focus of an undergraduate education as the core principle of collegiate athletics.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 22, 2026

The fact that an enterprise makes progress does not necessarily mean I should adopt it: athletes run faster every year, but that is no reason why I should take up athletics.

From "The Invention of Science" by David Wootton

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