kinesiology

American  

[ki-nee-see-ol-uh-jee, -zee-, kahy-] / kɪˌni siˈɒl ə dʒi, -zi-, kaɪ- /

noun

1. the science dealing with the interrelationship of the physiological processes and anatomy of the human body with respect to movement.

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kinesiology British  

/ kɪˌniːsɪˈɒlədʒɪ /

noun

1. the study of the mechanics and anatomy of human muscles

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Other Word Forms

• kinesiologist noun

Etymology

Origin of kinesiology

First recorded in 1890–95; from Greek kī́nēsi(s) “movement” ( kinesis ) + -o- + -logy

Explanation

Kinesiology is the study of human movement. Students who study sports medicine in college will often take classes in kinesiology. Studying the way the human body moves, how it's affected by movement, and the ways it's prone to being hurt by movement all fall under the label of kinesiology. Physical education teachers, coaches, physical therapists, dancers — all of these people have an interest in kinesiology, because their jobs are directly connected to the movement of the human body. The word kinesiology comes from a Greek root word, kinesis, "motion or movement."

Example Sentences

What sets Manyweather apart from the rest is his unique combination of playing as an offensive lineman in college himself, as well as his degree in history and kinesiology.

From BBC • Jan. 30, 2026

Scientific data on whether bigger runners benefit more from modern spikes is scant, said Wouter Hoogkamer, an associate professor of kinesiology at UMass Amherst who has published numerous papers on super shoes.

From The Wall Street Journal • Oct. 1, 2025

Moody said he already has a plan for himself: go to a four-year university, study kinesiology and become a physical therapist.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 27, 2025

Combine the two and you double down on what adults need to stay healthy, said Debbie Rhea, professor in kinesiology at Texas Christian University.

From Seattle Times • May 29, 2024

I’ve got three-quarters of a degree in environmental studies, one year of kinesiology, and a half-written one-act play.

From Someone Comes to Town, Someone Leaves Town by Doctorow, Cory