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

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

Other sports have made accommodations for female body types, such as lower sprint hurdles in athletics or lighter and smaller basketballs.

From BBC • May 6, 2026

Most transgender students simply want the chance to belong, to be part of a team, and to experience the social, emotional, and physical benefits of school athletics.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

These shifts reflect deeper changes in college athletics.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

Running marathons while pregnant feels "even more meaningful" than her previous achievements in athletics, according to Hauger-Thackery.

From BBC • Apr. 21, 2026

If I thought balancing academics and athletics in high school was challenging, college was ten times more intense.

From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad