fast-twitch

American  

[fast-twich, fahst-] / ˈfæstˌtwɪtʃ, ˈfɑst- /

Or fasttwitch

adjective

Physiology.

1. of or relating to muscle fiber that contracts relatively rapidly, utilized especially in actions requiring maximum effort of short duration, as sprinting (distinguished from slow-twitch).

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Compare meaning

How does fast-twitch compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• fast-twitch vs. slow-twitch

Example Sentences

And it’s all thanks to $150,000 pieces of technology—and the fast-twitch virtuosos who pilot them.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 13, 2026

Beauden Barrett and Damian McKenzie use their combination of fast-twitch fibres and game-smart grey matter to flip-flop between the two play-making roles down in New Zealand.

From BBC • Oct. 7, 2024

These included a shift in slow-twitch muscle fibres to express genes characteristic of the lost fast-twitch subtype, and increased regeneration of remaining fast-twitch fibre subtypes.

From Science Daily • Apr. 15, 2024

According to Bohannon, this may be because women have more so-called slow-twitch muscle fibers than men, whose bodies favor fast-twitch muscles.

From Salon • Oct. 11, 2023

“So they would just do very intense explosive type weight training. And this develops fast-twitch muscle fiber, and the benefits that will come will carry over. It’s not just that they got this boost.”

From New York Times • Mar. 25, 2022