synchronized swimming

American  

noun

1. a sport growing out of water ballet in which swimmers, in solo, duet, and team efforts, complete various required figures by performing motions in relatively stationary positions, along with a freestyle competition, with the contestants synchronizing movements to music and being judged for body position, control, and the degree of difficulty of the moves.

2. a swimming exercise or exhibition derived from the competitive sport.

---

synchronized swimming British  

noun

1. Sometimes shortened to: synchro.   synchro swimming.  the art or sport of one or more swimmers moving in patterns in the water in time to music

---

Etymology

Origin of synchronized swimming

First recorded in 1945–50

Example Sentences

Designed by Charles T. Meier and engineered by project manager Kyle Amerine, the massive seahorse nodded as it coached over a dozen fin-flapping baby sea creatures as they performed a synchronized swimming routine.

From Los Angeles Times • Jan. 3, 2026

Second, in a discipline whose enthusiasm for homogeneity is reflected in its pre-2017 name, synchronized swimming, one of the athletes in the pool is very much not like the others.

From New York Times • Jun. 6, 2024

"I had these amazing synchronized swimming coaches," she said.

From Reuters • May 24, 2023

Russia is the giant of their sport, previously called synchronized swimming, having won all the gold medals at the past six Olympics.

From Washington Times • Mar. 2, 2023

“Good,” said the chief seamstress, and the other five had nodded, a synchronized swimming team of flinty approval.

From "Impossible Creatures" by Katherine Rundell