calisthenics
Americannoun
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(used with a plural verb) gymnastic exercises designed to develop physical health and vigor, usually performed with little or no special apparatus.
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(used with a singular verb) the art, practice, or a session of such exercises.
noun
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of calisthenics
1840–50; cali- (variant of calli- ) + Greek sthén ( os ) strength + -ics
Explanation
Calisthenics is exercise, like jumping jacks or pull-ups, that people do to stay in shape or get in better shape. Doing calisthenics usually involves simple movements, like stretching, jumping, bending, and kicking, that don't involve a lot of equipment, if any. Kids in gym class do calisthenics, and calisthenics are helpful to many people, including athletes and people in the military. The push-up is a famous example of calisthenics. Those limber folks on cheerleading squads are masters of calisthenics. A little calisthenics can be helpful in anyone's everyday routine as a way to build endurance and stay healthy.
Vocabulary lists containing calisthenics
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
I believe reading books that challenge me is a great way to practice mental calisthenics.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 12, 2025
You’re not going to have to resort to calisthenics to mash that avocado or that potato.
From Salon • Feb. 28, 2024
Instead, reading is like mental calisthenics for film, priming the mind for flights of imagination and empathy.
From Seattle Times • Feb. 16, 2024
The movie opens with him speed walking in a circle inside a spacious, elegantly shambolic apartment before pausing to execute some calisthenics.
From New York Times • Feb. 8, 2024
I forced myself into a longer warm-up routine than normal, including some basic calisthenics and my usual stretching routine, but I couldn’t shake the fatigue I was feeling.
From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
