athlete

noun

ath·​lete ˈath-ˌlēt 

nonstandard

ˈa-thə-ˌlēt 

1

: a person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina

2

: an animal (such as a horse or a dog) that competes in races or other sporting events or has qualities (such as stamina and agility) suggestive of a human athlete

Hospice working dogs were wiry, muscular, agile, yellowish-tan or brown athletes with unexaggerated heads …

—Deborah Lawson

Examples of athlete in a Sentence

Athletes from around the world will be competing at the Olympics.

She was quite an athlete as a child.

Recent Examples on the Web

Some athletes get bored with protein shakes and bars and can only eat so many eggs or chicken breasts. —Cynthia Sass, Mph, Health, 8 June 2024

Katie Ledecky is among the world’s most accomplished athletes, but people seem to know little about Katie Ledecky, the human. —Andrew Trunsky, New York Times, 8 June 2024

The two Stanley Cup Final teams — the Edmonton Oilers and the Florida Panthers — have their puppy versions of their star athletes: Connor McDoodle and Sergei Bobruffsky. —Julie Mazziotta, Peoplemag, 7 June 2024

For example, Josh Gibson, a Negro Leagues player, beat out Ty Cobb’s status as the athlete with the highest career batting average. —Ella Feldman, Smithsonian Magazine, 7 June 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin athleta, from Greek athlētēs, from athlein to contend for a prize, from athlon prize, contest

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing athlete

• athlete's foot

Kids Definition

athlete

noun

ath·​lete ˈath-ˌlēt 

: a person who is trained in or good at games and exercises that require physical skill, endurance, and strength