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

The company was hurt by competitive pressure in the U.S. Lululemon — The athleisure brand's stock fell more than 3% after Bloomberg reported that a second version of its leggings has been criticized for being too sheer. —Michelle Fox, CNBC, 12 Feb. 2026

With plenty of camp alumni reunions, preserved training areas with an athleisure collection to match, and a general outdoorsy ethos that encourages guests to get off their phones and outside, the good ol' days are still here at Cedar Lakes. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 Feb. 2026

Leggings are among the easiest wardrobe basics to dress up and can be paired with everything from athleisure to oversized sweaters or tucked into thigh-high boots. —Amber Rambharose, InStyle, 31 Jan. 2026

Shapewear, bodies, athleisure pieces and loungewear are among categories doing well, and this was reflected in the offer. —Alex Wynne, Footwear News, 30 Jan. 2026

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