Olympian
Americanadjective
noun
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Olympians
plural
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an Olympian deity.
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a contender in the Olympic Games.
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a native or inhabitant of Olympia.
adjective
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of or relating to Mount Olympus or to the classical Greek gods
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majestic or godlike in manner or bearing
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superior to mundane considerations, esp when impractical
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of or relating to ancient Olympia or its inhabitants
noun
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a god of Olympus
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an inhabitant or native of ancient Olympia
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a competitor in the Olympic Games
Usage
What does olympian mean? An olympian is an athlete who competes (or has competed) in the Olympic Games (popularly called the Olympics), an international athletic competition featuring multiple sporting events between athletes representing their country. The word is often capitalized. There are two related but separate events called the Olympics: one hosted in winter, called the Winter Games, and one hosted in summer, called the Summer Games (they are commonly called the Winter Olympics and the Summer Olympics). The Winter Olympics feature winter sports, including figure skating, skiing, snowboarding, ice hockey, and many others. The Summer Olympics feature traditionally warm weather and indoor sports, like track and field, gymnastics, swimming, and basketball, among many others. At the Olympics, the Olympians who finish in the top three places in each event are famously awarded Olympic medals: gold for first place, silver for second place, and bronze for third place. Olympians are often considered the best athletes in the world, and winning a medal—or simply being an olympian—is considered one of the peaks of athletic achievement. The modern Olympics are based on an ancient Greek festival and competition that’s also referred to as the Olympic Games, and competitors in these games are also referred to as olympians. Especially when it’s capitalized, the word Olympian can also be used in reference to the gods of Greek mythology, who were believed to inhabit Mount Olympus. It can be used as a noun referring to one of the gods or as an adjective to describe things involving them or resembling them. Sometimes, it’s used more generally to mean about the same thing as majestic.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of Olympian
1585–95; < Late Latin Olympiānus, equivalent to Latin Olympi ( us ) (< Greek Olýmpios, derivative of Ólympos Olympus ) + -ānus -an
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.
See Examples For:
The three-time Olympian said she was “in bed resting” and would “explain sooner or later” what had led to her hospitalization, while thanking the people closest to her for their support.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 28, 2026
In Greek mythology, the volcano was associated with the burial of the giants Typhon and Enceladus after they were defeated by the Olympian gods.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 14, 2026
Celebrity-led programmes still featured in the Authored Documentary category, with documentaries from Olympian Sir Chris Hoy, former Little Mix singer Jesy Nelson, and Sharon Osbourne's film about her late husband Ozzy among the nominees.
From BBC ● Sep. 9, 2026
Attorney for the District of Columbia Jeanine Pirro to prosecute David Hearn, a former Olympian who was accused of vandalizing the Reflecting Pool at the Lincoln Memorial.
From Salon ● Aug. 21, 2026
‘The Olympian gods, on the other hand, have never used me, eh?’
From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan
Though endurance athletes—from Olympians to amateur runners—are highly susceptible to gastrointestinal issues, the spectacle generated backlash and stirred a debate: Had extreme fitness gone too far?
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 18, 2026
Some have already voiced ambitions to become Olympians or Paralympians.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 28, 2026
Around 14,000 Olympians per Games are expected to be eligible for the grant.
From BBC ● Jun. 24, 2026
In this nation powered by oil wealth, there is also a pipeline of talent that keeps gushing Olympians.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 17, 2026
The Olympians seemed to take turns using him for their schemes.
From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
