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

In the aftermath, Kerr danced with the crowd, before former world mile record holders, Britons Cram and Sebastian Coe, and the British contingent of athletes shared words of congratulations. — George Edwards, New York Times, 21 July 2026

The 21-year-old influencer wrapped her arms around her athlete beau and appeared to plant a kiss on him while celebrating Spain’s win at New York New Jersey Stadium. — Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 20 July 2026

If the athletes lose in court, Downton isn’t paid anything and his costs aren’t reimbursable. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 20 July 2026

The United States Olympic and Paralympic Committee sent out an email asking athletes to support the Protect College Sports Act (PCSA). — Katie Uhlaender Outkick, FOXNews.com, 20 July 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