fast-twitch

American

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

Or fasttwitch

adjective

Physiology.

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

fast-twitch vs. slow-twitch

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.

See Examples For:

fast-twitch

The researchers found that ROS help initiate the transition from fast-twitch to slow-twitch muscle fibers.

From Science Daily ● Oct. 28, 2026

With traditional pension funds stepping back, fast-twitch traders have seized a record 7% of the Treasury market, where $1.2 trillion of securities change hands every day.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 15, 2026

Prime among them was "a higher percentage of fast-twitch muscle fibres", which are less dependent upon oxygen.

From BBC ● May 13, 2024

Stacey Derosier’s fast-twitch lighting effectively shuttles us between sessions.

From New York Times ● Feb. 1, 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

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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023