athletic
adjective
ath·let·ic
ath-ˈle-tik 
nonstandard
ˌa-thə-ˈle-
2
3
: used by athletes
athletic shoes/equipment
the school's athletic fields
4
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
Archibald has experience in all of those roles in his 23-year career in education that includes teaching 13 years in the classroom, working 10 years in administration as an assistant athletic director and coaching for all of that time.
—
Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
His athletic metrics rank among some of the best in recent years.
—Alec Lewis, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Thousands of other personnel involved in sports, including coaches, trainers and student employees in athletic departments, can gain insider access to information, such as player injuries, which can prove valuable in betting.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 27 Apr. 2026
Miami snagged Indiana All-American safety Louis Moore after the draft, but his athletic limitations worked against him with NFL personnel executives.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for athletic
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Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 28 Apr. 2026
His athletic metrics rank among some of the best in recent years.
—Alec Lewis, New York Times, 27 Apr. 2026
Thousands of other personnel involved in sports, including coaches, trainers and student employees in athletic departments, can gain insider access to information, such as player injuries, which can prove valuable in betting.
—Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 27 Apr. 2026
Miami snagged Indiana All-American safety Louis Moore after the draft, but his athletic limitations worked against him with NFL personnel executives.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 27 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for athletic
Cite this Entry
“Athletic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/athletic. Accessed 28 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
athletic
adjective
ath·let·ic
ath-ˈlet-ik
1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of athletes or athletics
2
3
athleticism
noun
ath-ˈlet-ə-ˌsi-zəm
Medical Definition
athletic
adjective
ath·let·ic
ath-ˈlet-ik
: characterized by heavy frame, large chest, and powerful muscular development : mesomorphic
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