Pilates

noun

Pi·​la·​tes pə-ˈlä-tēz 

: an exercise regimen that is typically performed on a floor mat or with the use of specialized apparatus and aims to improve flexibility and stability by strengthening the muscles and especially the torso-stabilizing muscles of the abdomen and lower back

Long popular with dancers, Pilates recently has attracted a huge surge of athletes, models, actors and other body-conscious folks.

—Patricia Hagen

She does intensive Pilates, deep-muscle floor exercises and stretches.

—Cosmopolitan

Examples of Pilates in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Favorite hobbies: Yoga, Pilates, hiking Pet Peeves: When people who have the middle seat on a plane pressure you to trade your window/aisle seat, middle management, and consistently being late. —Dalton Ross, EW.com, 20 Aug. 2025

Salah is also a Pilates devotee, and has stationed a Pilates reformer among the squat rack, weight stacks and treadmill in his home gym. —Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 20 Aug. 2025

Guests can also sign up for classes, such as water yoga, Pilates, and meditation. —Taryn White, Travel + Leisure, 16 Aug. 2025

La Costa’s group fitness classes span everything from yoga, spin, and Pilates to power boxing, high intensity interval training, and cardiovascular boot camp. —Joe Yogerst, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Joseph H. Pilates †1967 U.S. (German-born) fitness instructor

First Known Use

1934, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for Pilates

• altarpiece
• centerpiece
• frontispiece
• mantelpiece
• masterpiece
• summarise
• syntheses
• apiece
• aris
• assise
• caprice
• cerise

Medical Definition

Pilates

noun

Pi·​la·​tes pə-ˈlä-tēz 

: an exercise regimen typically performed with the use of specialized apparatus and designed to improve the overall condition of the body