1
gymnastics
jim-ˈna-stiks 
plural in form but singular in construction
plural in form but singular in construction
a
: physical exercises designed to develop strength and coordination
b
: a competitive sport in which individuals perform optional and prescribed acrobatic feats mostly on special apparatus in order to demonstrate strength, balance, and body control
2
: an exercise in intellectual or artistic dexterity
My earlier philosophic study had been an intellectual gymnastic.—
John Dewey
John Deweymental gymnastics
3
: a physical feat or contortion
… did not lend itself to the gymnastics of break dancing.—Tony Karon
Tony KaronExamples of gymnastic in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
George Caulkin, New York Times, 3 Dec. 2025
Weather permitting, our family often heads outside after dinner to enjoy the crisp air, either playing ball or letting the younger kids lead us in gymnastic and dance tutorials.
—Dana Santas, CNN Money, 21 Nov. 2025
Literary Hub, 8 Dec. 2025
After meeting Bruce Lee at age 11 through his brother-in-law, an actor, Tong began training in martial arts and gymnastics before becoming a stuntman in 1980.
—Essie Assibu, Variety, 7 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gymnastic
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Adjective
From their perspective, the second equaliser was miserable; a corner delivered from the left by Mathys Tel which Aaron Ramsdale punched inexplicably high and Romero met with a gymnastic mis-hit, the ball bouncing twice before nestling in the net.
—George Caulkin, New York Times, 3 Dec. 2025
Weather permitting, our family often heads outside after dinner to enjoy the crisp air, either playing ball or letting the younger kids lead us in gymnastic and dance tutorials.
—Dana Santas, CNN Money, 21 Nov. 2025
Noun
No horses, no bicycles, no gymnastics, no tree climbing, no leaping from barn windows into stacks of hay, no stickball, no tetherball, no relay races.
—Literary Hub, 8 Dec. 2025
After meeting Bruce Lee at age 11 through his brother-in-law, an actor, Tong began training in martial arts and gymnastics before becoming a stuntman in 1980.
—Essie Assibu, Variety, 7 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for gymnastic
Cite this Entry
“Gymnastic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gymnastic. Accessed 12 Dec. 2025.
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