physical education

American  

noun

1. systematic instruction in sports, exercises, and hygiene given as part of a school or college program.

---

physical education British  

noun

1. PE. training and practice in sports, gymnastics, etc, as in schools and colleges

---

Etymology

Origin of physical education

First recorded in 1830–40

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

physical education

CEO Arthur Lih believes every school should have them in the cafeteria, the nurse’s office, the principal’s office and the physical education department.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 9, 2026

Many schools are housed in beautiful old palazzi - they were never designed with modern physical education in mind.

From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026

Aspiring physical education teacher Gao Yemiao missed his 30-second window to buy a train ticket home for China's biggest holiday before seats sold out -- but he was lucky.

From Barron's ● Feb. 13, 2026

For that he has his mother to thank - who persuaded him to study engineering when perhaps a course in physical education might have seemed more logical.

From BBC ● Oct. 31, 2025

“Oh, we always have physical education outdoors, on one of our fields.”

From "Tangerine" by Edward Bloor