athletics

American  

[ath-let-iks] / æθˈlɛt ɪks /

noun

1. (usually used with a plural verb) athletic sports, as running, rowing, or boxing.

2. British. track-and-field events.

3. (usually used with a singular verb) the practice of athletic exercises; the principles of athletic training.

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athletics British  

/ æθˈlɛtɪks /

noun

1. 1. track and field events

   2. ( as modifier )

      an athletics meeting

2. sports or exercises engaged in by athletes

3. the theory or practice of athletic activities and training

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Pronunciation

See athlete.

Etymology

Origin of athletics

First recorded in 1595–1605; see origin at athletic, -ics

Explanation

Use the noun athletics to talk about sports, including team practice, games, and training. A serious baseball player might choose a college based on its athletics program. In Britain, the word athletics specifically refers to track and field competitions, such as long-distance running, high jump, and javelin. In the US, you can use the word to talk about any kind of sporty activity. The noun athletics comes from the adjective athletic, based on the model of gymnastics. The Greek root is athletes, "prizefighter" or "contestant in the games."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

athletics

But his relationship as a big-time donor to Trojan athletics really began in 1998, when USC was desperate to build a new practice field for new football coach Paul Hackett.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 23, 2026

Sales have been strongest for athletics and cycling but tickets remain available for all sports across the 11 days of competition.

From BBC ● Jul. 23, 2026

Tuition, housing, dining, fees, athletics, facilities and campus amenities all depend on keeping students enrolled in a costly ecosystem.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 16, 2026

Most notably, they permit sex segregation in school athletics by sometimes requiring the creation of boys’ teams and girls’ teams.

From Slate ● Jul. 15, 2026

It was a natural law of athletics that there must be whispering before a game and nothing else.

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy