ski

American  

[skee] / ski /

Rarely skee

noun

plural

skis,

plural

ski

1. one of a pair of long, slender runners made of wood, plastic, or metal used in gliding over snow.

2. water ski.

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verb (used without object)

skied, skiing

1. to travel on skis, as for sport.

verb (used with object)

skied, skiing

1. to use skis on; travel on skis over.

   to ski the slopes of Switzerland.

ski British  

/ skiː /

noun

1. 1. one of a pair of wood, metal, or plastic runners that are used for gliding over snow. Skis are commonly attached to shoes for sport, but may also be used as landing gear for aircraft, etc

   2. ( as modifier )

      a ski boot

2. a water-ski

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verb

1. (intr) to travel on skis

Other Word Forms

• skiable adjective
• skier noun
• skiing noun

Etymology

Origin of ski

First recorded in 1745–55; from Norwegian; Old Norse skīth; cognate with Old English scīd “strip of wood,” German Scheit “thin board”

Example Sentences

Neom recently canceled major construction contracts at a $38 billion luxury mountain project, meant to be the first outdoor ski resort in the Gulf.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

Link partners have discussed buying the founders cars as well as a weekend ski house.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 4, 2026

Beneath the powder snow at internationally popular Japanese ski resort Niseko, anxiety is mounting among residents over soaring prices and a massive influx of overseas workers.

From Barron's • Mar. 20, 2026

Beren Akkaya, one of several schoolchildren at a local ski camp, also witnessed the crash.

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

It’s not quite Gstaad or Aspen, but the weather is cold enough to ski on the snow-covered mountains looming to the north.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady