athlete

noun

ath·​lete ˈath-ˌlēt 

nonstandard

ˈa-thə-ˌlēt 

1

: a person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina

professional athletes

2

: an animal (such as a horse or a dog) that competes in races or other sporting events or has qualities (such as stamina and agility) suggestive of a human athlete

Hospice working dogs were wiry, muscular, agile, yellowish-tan or brown athletes with unexaggerated heads …

—Deborah Lawson

Examples of athlete in a Sentence

Athletes from around the world will be competing at the Olympics.

She was quite an athlete as a child.

Recent Examples on the Web

Officials have not released an official count of athletes, but the number could match the 12,000 that participated three years ago in the games in Hangzhou, China. — ABC News, 15 Sep. 2026

The weekend will also feature RAF NEXT GEN, RAF’s youth wrestling platform designed to give the next generation of athletes a stage alongside the professional league. — James Varsallone, Miami Herald, 15 Sep. 2026

The season 35 cast encompasses athletes, actors, reality TV cast members, social media stars and more. — Kelly Allen, PEOPLE, 15 Sep. 2026

Take the quiz here … LISTEN Tune in as potential federal legislation aims to overhaul NIL rules, transfer policies, and student-athlete recruitment in college sports. — FOXNews.com, 15 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin athleta, from Greek athlētēs, from athlein to contend for a prize, from athlon prize, contest

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing athlete

• athlete's foot

Rhymes for athlete

• amit
• backseat
• blackfeet
• broadsheet
• browbeat
• buckwheat
• compete
• compleat
• complete
• conceit
• concrete
• crabmeat

Kids Definition

athlete

noun

ath·​lete ˈath-ˌlēt 

: a person who is trained in or good at games and exercises that require physical skill, endurance, and strength