contortionist
Americannoun
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a person who performs gymnastic feats involving contorted postures.
-
a person who practices contortion.
a verbal contortionist.
noun
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a performer who contorts his body for the entertainment of others
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a person who twists or warps meaning or thoughts
a verbal contortionist
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of contortionist
First recorded in 1855–60; contortion + -ist
Explanation
A contortionist is an extremely flexible performer who can bend her body into interesting and odd positions. If you go to the circus, you may get to see contortionists. Contortionists are acrobats who specialize in bending and twisting in dramatic ways. It's an art that requires years of training, for strength and flexibility, and includes moves such as backbends, front bends, and splits. In some countries, including Mongolia, being a contortionist is a highly admired form of artistic expression. The word contortionist comes from the verb contort, which has a Latin root, contorquere, "to whirl or twist together," from torquere, "to twist."
Vocabulary lists containing contortionist
Twists and Turns: Tor
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The House of Hades
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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.
That word came up many times during the show’s first audition rounds as dancers, singers, magicians, acrobats and a contortionist took the stage.
From Salon • May 31, 2025
Actor and contortionist Doug Jones remembered the memories he shared with his “Buffy” co-star in an Instagram tribute posted Wednesday.
From Los Angeles Times • Dec. 14, 2023
Now, thanks to social media, he has begun to establish himself as a professional contortionist and is training others to do the same.
From BBC • Jan. 10, 2023
Cortes is a contortionist who thrives on disruption, an oddity among the creatures of habit that baseball breeds.
From New York Times • Apr. 28, 2022
Bailey takes a closer look as he walks by, wondering if the contortionist is somehow concealed in the platform, but it is solid wood and open underneath.
From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
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.
