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

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

Brought by six athletes (representing football, swimming, diving, baseball, soccer and tennis), Johnson is not about paying college athletes market rates or permitting them to unionize. —Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 15 July 2024

The athlete, who spent nine years in the NFL, also played for the Pittsburgh Steelers and the then-San Diego Chargers (now the Los Angeles Chargers). —Becca Longmire, Peoplemag, 15 July 2024

As well as books from a couple of renowned athletes, including Andre Agassi’s much-talked about airing of tennis grievances and Megan Rapinoe’s empowering call to action. —Shannon Carlin, TIME, 15 July 2024

Richard Simmons wasn’t an actor or a model or a musician or an author or an athlete. —Ej Dickson, Rolling Stone, 15 July 2024

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

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