athleisure

noun

ath·​lei·​sure ˈath-ˌlē-zhər 

-ˌle-,

-ˌlā-,

 nonstandard  ˈa-thə-

: casual clothing designed to be worn both for exercising and for general use

Of course, athleisure has lately become a fashion buzzword, a term intended to embrace the kind of clothing that a woman might be able to wear at work, to the gym, and then to dinner.

—Rob Haskell

—often used before another noun

Athleisure gear has reportedly unseated denim as the go-to clothing item of choice for teens.

—Nedra Rhone

Examples of athleisure in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Workout gear became acceptable everyday wear thanks to the athleisure craze, and what used to be reserved for casual Fridays at the office is now the new standard. —Catherine Santino, People.com, 9 Aug. 2025

Ty Haney, the woman who brought you exercise dresses, has returned to her athleisure company, Outdoor Voices, as a partner and co-owner ahead of today’s launch of the first collection of her new tenure. —Molly Liebergall, Fortune, 5 Aug. 2025

The lifestyle brand blends athleisure apparel with streetwear flair and launched in 2020. —Chad Murphy, USA Today, 23 July 2025

The bank downgraded shares of the athleisure retailer to neutral from overweight. —Lisa Kailai Han, CNBC, 22 July 2025

Word History

Etymology

blend of athlete and leisure

First Known Use

1976, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for athleisure

• displeasure
• countermeasure
• leisure
• measure
• pleasure
• treasure

Kids Definition

athleisure

noun

ath·​lei·​sure

ˈath-ˌlē-zhər,

-ˌle-,

-ˌlā-

: casual clothing designed to be worn both for exercising and for general use