axel

¹ American  

[ak-suhl] / ˈæk səl /

noun

Figure Skating.

1. a jump performed by a skater leaping from the front outer edge of one skate into the air to make 1½ rotations of the body and landing on the back outer edge of the other skate.

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Axel ² American  

[ak-suhl] / ˈæk səl /

noun

1. a first name.

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axel British  

/ ˈæksəl /

noun

1. skating a jump in which the skater takes off from the forward outside edge of one skate, makes one and a half, two and a half, or three and a half turns in the air, and lands on the backward outside edge of the other skate

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Usage

What does axel mean? An axel is a maneuver in figure skating. The skater leaps from the front outside edge of one skate, rotates 1 ½ times, and lands on the rear outside edge of the other skate.The axel, also known as the axel jump, is considered the most difficult of the six jumps in figure skating. A tripleaxel, where a skater rotates 3 ½ times, has a starting value of 8 points at the Olympics, compared to the 3.3 points given for a double (2 ½ rotations) axel.Example: The judges were impressed by the skater’s axel and her perfect landing after completing the spin.

Etymology

Origin of axel

First recorded in 1925–30; after Axel Paulsen (1855–1938), Norwegian figure skater, who popularized the maneuver

Example Sentences

Despite suffering a heavy fall in the warm-up she attacked her free skate, including a triple axel to start then a complex triple loop and double axel sequence.

From BBC • Feb. 19, 2026

Japan’s 17-year-old Ami Nakai was the only other competitor to attempt a triple axel Tuesday and she soared to first place in the short program with 78.71 points.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 17, 2026

Heading into the free skate section in the lead, Malinin capitulated, fluffing his signature quad axel jump and falling twice to the ice to plummet to eighth spot overall.

From Barron's • Feb. 16, 2026

The standing-room-only crowd gasped when Malinin gave up on the quad axel.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 14, 2026

De dings vas maket simple,     Ash all crate idees shouldt pe, For 'tvas noding boot a gart-vheel,     Mit a dwo-feet axel dree.

From The Breitmann Ballads by Leland, Charles Godfrey