gymnast
Americannoun
-
gymnasts
plural
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of gymnast
1585–95; < Greek gymnastḗs the trainer of the athletes, equivalent to gymnáz ( ein ) ( see gymnasium 1) + -tēs agent suffix
Explanation
A gymnast is a person who trains in and practices the sport of gymnastics. If you become a gymnast, you'll learn to walk and jump and even do cartwheels on a balance beam. Athletes who participate in gymnastics are gymnasts. During competitions, gymnasts perform routines on uneven and parallel bars; vault over a special "horse" or table; and demonstrate a series of floor moves including back flips, handstands, and leaps. Gymnast comes from gymnastics, which is based on the Greek gynmastikos, "skilled in bodily exercise," from the root gymnazein, "to exercise."
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:
Olympic gymnast Simone Biles and her NFL star husband, Jonathan Owens, have landed a buyer for their sprawling Texas property—just days after listing the home they resided in while finishing up their custom mansion.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026
In early June, the gymnast revealed that she had “almost died” after experiencing an unspecified medical emergency while she was alone at the Texas property.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 28, 2026
Before Biles, a U.S. female gymnast had not competed in three Olympic Games in 24 years.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 2, 2026
It has been quite the couple of years for the Cardiff gymnast.
From BBC ● Jul. 28, 2026
Waterman was a small person, barely five feet three inches tall, with an elfin face and the sinewy, inexhaustible physique of a gymnast.
From "Into the Wild" by Jon Krakauer
Showcasing personality in sport through nail design is by no means limited to athletics, with competitors ranging from gymnasts to footballers getting into the salon.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
Since then, several gymnasts have taken legal action against the governing body.
From BBC ● May 21, 2026
In October 2023, Laura's case was heard and the ICP panel issued the lead coach at Laura's former club with a warning, due to their "serious concerns" about the approach to weighing gymnasts at club.
From BBC ● May 21, 2026
Watching the gymnasts change their approach to the daily grind and developing the young team, anchored by Olympic gold-medalist Jordan Chiles, has been a big part of the Bruins’ success.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 26, 2026
After every Olympics, a lot of gymnasts take time off, and others retire completely, which means that some countries can’t field a full team the following year.
From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
