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.

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heptathlon British  

/ hɛpˈtæθlɒn /

noun

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

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Other Word Forms

• heptathlete
  noun

Etymology

Origin of heptathlon

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

heptathlon

Katarina Johnson-Thompson finished 21st overall in the heptathlon, with British team-mate Jade O'Dowda 13th, as Ireland's Kate O'Connor backed up her Commonwealth title with European gold.

From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026

Ireland's Kate O'Connor moved into pole position for heptathlon gold with one event remaining at the European Athletics Championships in Birmingham, where Great Britain's Katarina Johnson-Thompson is out of medal contention.

From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026

Kate O'Connor has won Northern Ireland's first gold medal at the Commonwealth Games in the heptathlon at Scotstoun Stadium.

From BBC ● Jul. 29, 2026

Katerina Johnson-Thompson is chasing her third Commonwealth heptathlon title in a row and Adam Ramsay-Peaty returns to the same pool in which he won two golds in 2014.

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

She won multiple gold medals from the Olympics and world championships in the heptathlon and long jump while also setting world records.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 27, 2026