athletic

adjective

ath·​let·​ic ath-ˈle-tik How to pronounce athletic (audio)
nonstandard
ˌa-thə-ˈle- How to pronounce athletic (audio)
1
: of or relating to athletes or athletics
an athletic scholarship
athletic teams
athletic events
2
a
: characteristic of an athlete
athletic talent
a strong, athletic build
b
: vigorous, active
an athletic lifestyle
c
: active or gifted in sports, games, or exercises
He's not very athletic.
3
: used by athletes
athletic shoes/equipment
the school's athletic fields
4
athletically adverb

Examples of athletic in a Sentence

They each received an athletic scholarship to the school. Students can get discount tickets for all athletic events. His athletic career spanned three decades. She has great athletic ability. She's tall and has an athletic build.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Although Durant was unquestionably the better Thunder player during his stint with Westbrook and Harden, Westbrook had the longer run, playing in Oklahoma City through close to the tail end of his athletic prime. Alex Kirschenbaum, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 May 2025 Sabol, an operations manager from Madison with an athletic background that bonded her with the show's lead, entered the finale of the Fox reality show as one of two women left on Farmer Jay Woods' Alabama farm. Christopher Kuhagen, USA Today, 24 May 2025 Plus honors for Timber Creek and Winter Park athletic directors, Mikey Ziss as weightlifter of the year, Brice Sensabaugh (Utah Jazz) returns to Lake Highland Prep. Buddy Collings, The Orlando Sentinel, 23 May 2025 Friends of San Pasqual Academy supports athletic and academic programs and is planning their 2025 graduation, which will be very special and meaningful for all the graduates. News Release, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for athletic

Word History

Etymology

see athlete

First Known Use

1585, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of athletic was in 1585

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Athletic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/athletic. Accessed 29 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

athletic

adjective
ath·​let·​ic ath-ˈlet-ik How to pronounce athletic (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of athletes or athletics
2
3
athletically adverb
athleticism
ath-ˈlet-ə-ˌsi-zəm
noun

Medical Definition

athletic

adjective
ath·​let·​ic ath-ˈlet-ik How to pronounce athletic (audio)
: characterized by heavy frame, large chest, and powerful muscular development : mesomorphic

More from Merriam-Webster on athletic

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