archery
Americannoun
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the art, practice, or skill of an archer.
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archers collectively, as in an army.
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the equipment of an archer, as bows and arrows.
noun
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the art or sport of shooting with bows and arrows
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archers or their weapons collectively
Etymology
Origin of archery
1350–1400; Middle English archerye < Middle French archerie, equivalent to arch ( i ) er archer + -ie -y 3
Explanation
If you like to shoot arrows at a target with a bow, you're a fan of archery. Athletes who compete in archery are called archers. If you decide to try archery, you'll need a bow and some arrows, and ideally a target. These days, archery is mainly a hobby or a sport, but archery was originally a way for people to hunt for food or defend themselves from enemies. In Anglo-French, the word is archerye, from the Latin root arcus, or "bow."
Vocabulary lists containing archery
Vocabulary of the Summer Olympics
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Huntress
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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.
She came to both practices — spiritual companionship and archery — separately before they organically entwined.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026
The seemingly militaristic act of archery and peaceful meditation may seem diametrically opposed.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026
She’d always wanted to learn archery, since she was a kid growing up in rural Washington, and she persuaded him to give her a lesson.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026
In addition to his passion for journalism and multimedia storytelling, Xavier has a keen interest in fashion, cooking and archery.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 23, 2026
I was the worst archery shot in the world.
From "The Battle of the Labyrinth" 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.
