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
Patricia HagenShe does intensive Pilates, deep-muscle floor exercises and stretches.—Cosmopolitan
CosmopolitanExamples of Pilates in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The spa contains a small but full gym with a Pilates reformer, and private instruction is available.
—Marcia Desanctis, Travel + Leisure, 20 June 2025
Kira Jones meshes productivity with wellness on Cacti Wellness, a platform with 20-minute Pilates, fitness, and meditation sessions with a section for productivity tools.
—Nadja Sayej, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
The 50-minute classes, which combine vinyasa yoga with the core-strengthening and toning benefits of Pilates, welcome a maximum of six people, allowing instructors to guide people through the exercises with care and adapt each session to individual needs and fitness level.
—Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 20 June 2025
The festival will have three stages dedicated to movement, mindfulness and experiential offerings, including meditation; a HIIT, or high-intensity interval training, workout; yoga, Pilates, cardio dance and trampoline classes; pickleball and silent disco.
—Point Loma-Ob Monthly, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 June 2025
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Marcia Desanctis, Travel + Leisure, 20 June 2025
Kira Jones meshes productivity with wellness on Cacti Wellness, a platform with 20-minute Pilates, fitness, and meditation sessions with a section for productivity tools.
—Nadja Sayej, Forbes.com, 20 June 2025
The 50-minute classes, which combine vinyasa yoga with the core-strengthening and toning benefits of Pilates, welcome a maximum of six people, allowing instructors to guide people through the exercises with care and adapt each session to individual needs and fitness level.
—Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 20 June 2025
The festival will have three stages dedicated to movement, mindfulness and experiential offerings, including meditation; a HIIT, or high-intensity interval training, workout; yoga, Pilates, cardio dance and trampoline classes; pickleball and silent disco.
—Point Loma-Ob Monthly, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for Pilates
Cite this Entry
“Pilates.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Pilates. Accessed 4 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical 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
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