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

He’s won national awards for his work uncovering the stories of the Treasure Valley’s best athletes and investigating behind-the-scenes trends. —Michael Lycklama, Idaho Statesman, 9 Apr. 2024

Four Gamecocks scored in double digits, including senior Kamilla Cardoso who had 15, while Iowa’s Caitlin Clark put up 30 points in her final game as a collegiate athlete. —Patricia Garcia, Sacramento Bee, 9 Apr. 2024

Buffs teammates Travis Hunter and Dylan Edwards have also come by, along with CU basketball player KJ Simpson – and dozens of other college athletes. —Jonathan Shikes, The Denver Post, 8 Apr. 2024

Starting in the 2024-25 academic year, all 1,501 of the district’s student athletes will be required to undergo heart screenings before the beginning of the school year. —Isha Trivedi, The Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2024

As the blocks multiplied, a crew of Colby College student athletes sprang into action, pulling them from the pond, pushing them to shore and swiftly loading them into waiting trucks. —Jenna Russell Tristan Spinski, New York Times, 6 Apr. 2024

Harris hosted six members of the team in a meeting along with their family, friends, and those close to the group of former athletes. —Willie James Inman, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2024

Sports: Asking for input on how high to rank a player in a list of 100 athletes. —Bailey Schulz, USA TODAY, 5 Apr. 2024

Jonny is Jonny Garnett, a 6-foot-4 super freak of an athlete who can touch the top of the rectangle on the backboard above the rim. —Austin Knoblauch, Los Angeles Times, 29 Mar. 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