fitness

American  

[fit-nis] / ˈfɪt nɪs /

noun

1. health.

2. capability of the body of distributing inhaled oxygen to muscle tissue during increased physical effort.

3. Also called Darwinian fitness.  Biology.

   1. the genetic contribution of an individual to the next generation's gene pool relative to the average for the population, usually measured by the number of offspring or close kin that survive to reproductive age.

   2. the ability of a population to maintain or increase its numbers in succeeding generations.

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fitness British  

/ ˈfɪtnɪs /

noun

1. the state of being fit

2. biology

   1. the degree of adaptation of an organism to its environment, determined by its genetic constitution

   2. the ability of an organism to produce viable offspring capable of surviving to the next generation

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Etymology

Origin of fitness

First recorded in 1570–80; fit ¹ + -ness

Example Sentences

I love her, but my friend is neither a medical professional nor a fitness coach.

From The Wall Street Journal

Elsewhere, George Furbank has returned to Northampton and will play in the Premiership Rugby Cup this weekend, and could provide a creative outlet from full-back if he proves his fitness with the Saints.

From BBC

The 33-year-old said the injury was "not an easy one", and he is still feeling its effects, forcing him to change the setup of his bike until he returns to full fitness.

From Barron's

The five-bedroom, 5.5-bathroom property also features a gourmet kitchen as well as an additional guesthouse that is described as being the ideal spot for a home office or “state-of-the-art fitness studio.”

From MarketWatch

Among the benefits of marching is, of course, battle preparedness, as well as physical fitness, but it also helps a puffin think, and Major Puff had something important to think about at that moment.

From Literature

Related Words

• adequacy
• compatibility
• competence
• consistency
• eligibility
• preparedness
• qualification
• readiness
• suitability