gymnastics

American  

[jim-nas-tiks] / dʒɪmˈnæs tɪks /

noun

1. (used with a plural verb) gymnastic exercises.

2. (used with a singular verb) the practice art, or competitive sport of gymnastic exercises.

3. (used with a plural verb) mental feats or other exercises of skill.

   Verbal gymnastics.

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gymnastics British  

/ dʒɪmˈnæstɪks /

noun

1. (functioning as singular) practice or training in exercises that develop physical strength and agility or mental capacity

2. (functioning as plural) gymnastic exercises

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Usage

What does gymnastics mean? Gymnastics is a sport involving tests and demonstrations of balance, strength, and agility through physical exercises, many of which are performed using special equipment. Skills performed in gymnastics include rhythmic dance, feats of strength and balance, and highly athletic and artistic body movements, such as vaults, flips, twists, and other aerial maneuvers. The gymnastics events at the Summer Olympic Games are widely considered to feature the highest level of international competition. They consist of three separate competitions: artistic gymnastics, rhythmic gymnastics, and trampoline gymnastics. The most well-known form of gymnastics is artistic gymnastics, and this is the sport that’s most often simply referred to as gymnastics. It includes several different competitive events, including floor exercise, vault, parallel bars, uneven bars, horizontal bar, balance beam, rings, and pommel horseRhythmic gymnastics involves dancelike movements while handling objects such as balls, hoops, and ribbons. Trampoline gymnastics involves performing acrobatics with the aid of a trampoline. Athletes who compete in the sport of gymnastics are called gymnasts. The word gymnastics is also sometimes used in a figurative way to refer to the exercise of skill in some (usually difficult) task or action, as in I bet that took quite a bit of mental gymnastics. Example: In the history of gymnastics, there has never been another gymnast quite like Simone Biles.

Etymology

Origin of gymnastics

First recorded in 1645–55; gymnastic, -ics

Compare meaning

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

• acrobatics vs. gymnastics

Example Sentences

There were no tennis, artistic gymnastics or men’s basketball tickets available.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 7, 2026

Schools argue that athletics are part of their educational mission, with revenue from football and basketball funding sports that make far less money, such as swimming and gymnastics.

From Salon • Apr. 5, 2026

By then I had dropped gymnastics for dance lessons.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 17, 2026

For Olympic gymnast Ruby Evans, how she looks is "as important" as the gymnastics itself.

From BBC • Feb. 15, 2026

If a gymnast performed well enough, Martha just might notice her and invite her to developmental camp at the world-famous gymnastics training center she and her husband, Bela Karolyi, operate in Huntsville, Texas.

From "Courage to Soar" by Simone Biles