athleticism

American  

[ath-let-uh-siz-uhm] / æθˈlɛt əˌsɪz əm /

noun

• athleticisms
  plural

1. a high degree of natural talent, strength, or enthusiasm in physical sports or exercises.

   Yoga should be accessible to all people regardless of body type, level of athleticism, or age.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• athleticisms
  plural

Etymology

Origin of athleticism

athletic ( def. ) + -ism ( def. )

Explanation

Athleticism is the quality of having the kind of strength and energy that makes a great athlete. It takes athleticism to run marathons, play pro football, or sprint down a cobblestone street in high heels without falling. Athleticism might get you a basketball scholarship to college or help you win most of the tennis matches you play. When you're particularly good at a sport, people will praise your athleticism. Although it’s usually used with sports, athleticism can describe any quality of strength and energy. It takes musical athleticism to play Ravel’s Gaspard de la nuit on piano. The word is rooted in the Greek athlētēs, "prizefighter or contestant in the games."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

athleticism athleticisms

Talent, athleticism and commitment are not nearly enough to become a Grand Slam singles champion.

From BBC ● Sep. 7, 2026

Despite his 5-foot-10 frame, his elite athleticism for the quarterback position made him look like a budding star.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026

His athleticism underpins that game as he reached a top speed of 34.5km/h in 2024-25, compared with 30.5km/h for Casemiro, and averaged 8.2 defensive actions per 90.

From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026

There Omosigho can elevate the team’s run stopping and use his athleticism to cover the middle of the defense sideline-to-sideline.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 23, 2026

Sheed, using the natural athleticism his gangly legs allowed, circled Mr. Flux twice, looping the rope around his calves.

From "The Last Last-Day-of-Summer" by Lamar Giles

“We’re very grounded. And adding a little Fred Astaire class on top of the gritty athleticisms, to combine it with the complete opposite, is confusing to the eye and that’s what makes it interesting.”

From Washington Post ● May 26, 2015

If the climate of England is as little favorable to a strenuous intellectual life as it is to strenuous athleticisms, the climate of Oxford is the climate of England to the nth power.

From An American at Oxford by John Corbin