discus

American  

[dis-kuhs] / ˈdɪs kəs /

noun

discuses, plural disci plural

1. a circular disk more than 7 inches (18 centimeters) in diameter and 2.2 pounds (1 kilogram) in weight, usually wooden with a metal rim and thicker in the center than at the edge, for throwing for distance in athletic competition.

2. the sport of throwing this disk for distance.

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discus British  

/ ˈdɪskəs /

noun

1. (originally) a circular stone or plate used in throwing competitions by the ancient Greeks

2. athletics

   1. a similar disc-shaped object with a heavy middle thrown by athletes

   2. ( as modifier )

      a discus thrower

3. the event or sport of throwing the discus

4. a South American cichlid fish, Symphysodon discus, that has a compressed coloured body and is a popular aquarium fish

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Usage

What does discus mean? A discus is the disk used in the track-and-field event known as discus or the discus throw—in which athletes compete to throw it as far as they can. The plural can be discuses or disci (which follows the same pluralization pattern found in other Latin-derived words, like alumnus and its plural, alumni). In competition, men typically use discuses that have a diameter of about 8. 6 inches (22 cm) and weigh about 4. 4 pounds (2 kg), while those used by women have a diameter of about 7 inches (18 cm) and weigh about 2. 2 pounds (1 kg). They are usually made of wood with a metal rim. Discus is one of the “field” events in track and field, which also include other events in which objects are thrown as far as possible, namely shot put and javelin. All three are events in the summer Olympic Games (the Summer Games) and are also events in the modern decathlon. Discus was one of the events in the ancient Greek Olympic Games. Example: Discus is one of my favorite track-and-field events because it was part of the ancient Olympic Games. 

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• disci
  plural
• discuses
  plural

Etymology

Origin of discus

First recorded in 1650–60; from Latin, from Greek dískos “a quoit, discus, disk,” derivative of diskeîn “to throw”

Explanation

Discus is the track and field sport in which athletes throw a heavy, circular plate, also known as a discus. Imagine a Frisbee, but much heavier — that's what a discus is like. To throw it, an athlete spins around in a circle to "wind up" before flinging the discus as hard as she can. It must land in a certain area, and the thrower whose discus has traveled farthest wins. Discus means "disc" in Greek, and this sport was included in the original Ancient Greek Olympics.

Example Sentences

Now in high school, she recently won a state championship in the shot put event and placed fourth in the discus event.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 30, 2026

He kept involved in the world of sport by working as a coach, including for New Zealand discus thrower Beatrice Faumuina, who took the world title in 1997.

From BBC • Jun. 29, 2026

Roje Stona, who won Olympic men's discus gold for Jamaica in 2024, was also one of the group.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2026

Veronica Fraley, a U.S. discus thrower at the Paris Olympics, was having financial trouble back home.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 24, 2026

From two to four o'clock they were back in class, and afterward, they went to the gymnasium or sports field, where they practiced gymnastics, football, boxing, discus and hand-grenade throwing, and wrestling.

From Nazi Saboteurs by Samantha Seiple

Related Words

• disc
• plate
• platter