figure skating

American  

noun

1. ice skating in which the skater traces intricate patterns on the ice.

2. a type of ice skating developed from this, emphasizing jumps, spins, and other movements that combine athletic skills and dance techniques.

3. a competitive sport in which the skater is required to execute school figures and to perform one or more original programs of difficult jumps, spins, etc., to a musical setting.

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figure skating British  

noun

1. ice skating in which the skater traces outlines of selected patterns

2. the whole art of skating, as distinct from skating at speed

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Other Word Forms

• figure skater
  noun

Etymology

Origin of figure skating

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

That’s relatively common in figure skating for gold medal winners who face a rush of media and commercial opportunities after a grueling four-year Olympic buildup.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 28, 2026

Ilia Malinin was the heavy favorite to win gold in men’s figure skating before a devastating free skate.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 22, 2026

Georgia earned their first Winter Olympic medal with silver in pairs figure skating, while Spain collected their first gold medal for 54 years in the men's ski mountaineering.

From BBC • Feb. 22, 2026

Newly crowned Olympic women's figure skating champion Alysa Liu says she wants her story to "inspire others" after the golden return of a former child prodigy who suffered burnout.

From Barron's • Feb. 20, 2026

The short-distance races, following the figure skating, were all within the oval of the principal arena.

From The Girls of Central High Aiding the Red Cross Or Amateur Theatricals for a Worthy Cause by Morrison, Gertrude W.