Olympian
Americanadjective
noun
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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
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.
Despite only having decided to race last week, he was confident of the win and joked, "I couldn't lose to an Olympian", in reference to boxer Lewis Richardson, who also took part.
From BBC • Apr. 26, 2026
It seemed unfair to subject Christopher to an interview after his Olympian performance, which was even more impressive on second viewing.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026
Despite his metaphorically Olympian stature, the pop star’s death was astoundingly and shamefully normal for a United States citizen.
From Salon • Apr. 21, 2026
Olympian Quincy Wilson from Bullis High in Maryland is ready to unleash his speed in two relay races and the 400 at Saturday’s Arcadia Invitational at Arcadia High.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 11, 2026
Marjory and her teammates would be awarded four Olympian medals.
From "Mr. Lemoncello's Library Olympics" by Chris Grabenstein
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.
