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

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Etymology

Origin of athleticism

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

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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

San Clemente often ran two-way star Jaxson Rex out of the Wildcat formation, letting the Brigham Young commit’s athleticism take center stage.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 24, 2026

Again Skinner showed off his athleticism with a touchdown pass of 51 yards to Weaver to tie the score 14-14.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 3, 2026

Flick sees them capable of controlling matches through positioning, possession and reading of the game rather than athleticism.

From BBC ● Oct. 3, 2026

AEW President Tony Khan said he "defined excellence" as a husband, friend and in his wrestling knowledge, skill and "unprecedented athleticism".

From BBC ● Sep. 28, 2026

I tripped over a rock and fell—I wasn’t just slower than Hassan but clumsier too; I’d always envied his natural athleticism.

From "The Kite Runner" by Khaled Hosseini

“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

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