mountaineering

American  

[moun-tn-eer-ing] / ˌmaʊn tnˈɪər ɪŋ /

noun

1. the sport of climbing mountains.

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Etymology

Origin of mountaineering

First recorded in 1795–1805; mountaineer + -ing ¹

Explanation

Mountaineering is another word for the sport of mountain climbing. If high altitudes and low temperatures are your thing, you should take up mountaineering. Climbing in snowy and ice-covered places requires special equipment and extreme care, watching out for dangers like falling ice and rocks, storms, and avalanches. In some parts of the world, mountaineering is called "alpinism." Originally, the noun mountaineer was a seventeenth century word for "mountain dweller." Two hundred years later, it came to mean "mountain climber."

Example Sentences

Members of the co-op mainly bought mountaineering equipment imported from Europe.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 15, 2026

He was promptly drafted into the Army, but his mountaineering experience led him to be assigned to the Mountain and Cold Weather Training Command in Colorado instead of combat duty in Korea.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 8, 2026

People in the mountaineering industry in the UK, the US and Europe told BBC News they've been keeping a close eye on the case.

From BBC • Feb. 28, 2026

Ski mountaineering is making its Olympic debut at the Milan-Cortina Games and while the 'skimo' sprints offered a condensed version of the sport, the mixed relay proved to be a true lung-busting race.

From Barron's • Feb. 21, 2026

The five men were walking single file, which was smart, but they weren’t using a rope—a serious violation of mountaineering protocol.

From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer

Related Words

• hiking