heptathlon

American  

[hep-tath-luhn, ‑lon] / hɛpˈtæθ lən, ‑lɒn /

noun

1. an athletic contest for women comprising seven different track-and-field events and won by the contestant amassing the highest total score.

---

heptathlon British  

/ hɛpˈtæθlɒn /

noun

1. an athletic contest for women in which each athlete competes in seven different events

---

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• heptathlete
  noun

Etymology

Origin of heptathlon

First recorded in 1985–90; hept- ( def. ) + (dec)athlon

Example Sentences

Katarina Johnson-Thompson shared bronze in a dramatic heptathlon finale on Saturday.

From BBC • Sep. 21, 2025

It was in the Japanese capital four years ago, in a soulless stadium without spectators amid the coronavirus pandemic, that Johnson-Thompson's Olympic heptathlon hopes were shattered by injury during the 200m.

From BBC • Sep. 18, 2025

"Great Britain will obviously come away disappointed. We perhaps hoped they might have been a little bit more in the mix than they were," four-time global heptathlon champion Jessica Ennis-Hill said on BBC One.

From BBC • Sep. 13, 2025

Johnson-Thompson, who ended her wait for an Olympic medal with heptathlon silver at Paris 2024, is entered in the 60m hurdles and shot put events at Utilita Arena.

From BBC • Feb. 21, 2025

It was Dickenson's voice that accompanied Jessica Ennis-Hill's heptathlon gold at London 2012, while his last BBC commentary was when Lizzy Yarnold won her skeleton gold at Sochi 2014.

From BBC • Nov. 27, 2024