Pilates

American  

[pi-lah-teez] / pɪˈlɑ tiz /

noun

(used with a singular verb)

1. a system of physical conditioning involving low-impact exercises and stretches designed to strengthen muscles of the torso and often performed with specialized equipment.

---

Pilates British  

/ pɪˈlɑːtiːz /

noun

1. a system of gentle exercise performed lying down that stretches and lengthens the muscles, designed to improve posture, flexibility, etc

---

Etymology

Origin of Pilates

Named after Joseph Pilates (1883–1967), German fitness instructor

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Pilates

Wrist-based tracking during cycling and Pilates lagged behind the Whoop and Apple Watch.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026

A woman who limits her exercise to Pilates will still have to subsist on very little food to get the delicate, bone-thin look these men conjure with the “Pilates girl” image.

From Salon ● Aug. 5, 2026

If you’re unfamiliar with Lagree, Moroney said it’s “like Pilates but harder.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2026

Even athletic brands that are struggling in the U.S., like Lululemon, have found fertile ground in China, where yoga and Pilates have become popular among affluent urban women.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 24, 2026

Half the Pilates girls will be here, head to toe in Sweaty Betty, competitively stretching, manicured hands wrapped around their Starbucks.

From "The Girl on the Train" by Paula Hawkins