acrobat

noun

ac·​ro·​bat ˈa-krə-ˌbat 

1

: one that performs gymnastic feats requiring skillful control of the body

2

a

: one skillful at exercises of intellectual or artistic dexterity

b

: one adept at swiftly changing or adapting a position or viewpoint

a political acrobat

Synonyms

• gymnast
• turner

Examples of acrobat in a Sentence

a child who is a natural acrobat with a superb sense of balance

a political acrobat whose opinion on any issue is whatever will get the most votes

Recent Examples on the Web

Not sure the Red Panda halftime acrobat can pull off this balancing act. —Troy Renck, Denver Post, 28 May 2025

Bounding the action are two historical events: the acrobat Philippe Petit’s walk across a tightrope strung between the Twin Towers, in 1974, and the fall of the towers on September 11, 2001. —Katy Waldman, New Yorker, 19 May 2025

Set in 1925, the story involves identical twins Dulcinea (who is Hastings’ wife) and Bella, a married acrobat who has disappeared while hat-shopping in London’s Mayfair district. —Pam Kragen, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Apr. 2025

For the past ten years, the room has filled with fans of Cirque’s unique mix of acrobats, tumblers, strong men and trapeze artists along with the central characters of the Joya story. —Eric Fuller, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French acrobates, acrobate, borrowed from Middle Greek akrobátēs "tightrope walker," agent derivative of Greek akróbatos "walking on tiptoe," from akro- acro- + -batos, verbal adjective from baínein "to walk, go" — more at come entry 1

First Known Use

1827, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for acrobat

• autocrat
• automat
• bundesrat
• bureaucrat
• butterfat
• caveat
• chemostat
• copycat
• cryostat
• democrat
• diplomat
• guzerat

Kids Definition

acrobat

noun

ac·​ro·​bat ˈak-rə-ˌbat 

: a person (as a circus performer) who is very good at stunts like jumping, balancing, tumbling, and swinging from things

acrobatic

ˌak-rə-ˈbat-ik 

adjective

acrobatically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb