- present participle of mountaineer.
mountaineering
Americannoun
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
He writes about mountaineering as a spiritual practice, good for the mind and body alike, while questioning why some find that clarity only by staring death in the face.
From Salon ● Nov. 1, 2026
“The thing that propelled it negatively into pop culture was the drama and sensationalism,” said Will Cockrell, author of the book “Everest, Inc.,” of mountaineering on Everest.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2026
His death has sent shockwaves through the global mountaineering community and through Nepal, where he is a celebrated figure for giving a spotlight to Nepali climbing guides.
From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026
The avalanche has sparked an outpouring of shock in the mountaineering community, especially in Nepal, and leaders including Britain's Prince William have expressed condolences to the families of the climbers.
From Barron's ● Aug. 2, 2026
Their mountaineering experience varied from none at all to very slight—certainly none of them had the kind of experience which would make an ascent of Everest a reasonable goal.
From "Into Thin Air" by Jon Krakauer
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