athleticism

noun

ath·​let·​i·​cism ath-ˈle-tə-ˌsi-zəm 

: athletic ability : the combination of qualities (such as speed, strength, and agility) that are characteristic of an athlete

These days they do standing backflips and other moves that require a high degree of athleticism—and endless practice.

—Cathy Booth Thomas

Examples of athleticism in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That was also one of the rare occasions when Maresca leaned into Gusto’s speed and athleticism as a traditional up-and-down right-back. — Liam Twomey, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026

Young also threw an interception that not only required exceptional athleticism by Malik Muhammad but also arrived at the end of the first half and was largely inconsequential. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 14 Sep. 2026

Willis was under pressure from the Raiders' pass rush for much of the game but showed his athleticism and scrambling ability, finishing with a team-high 39 yards rushing. — ABC News, 14 Sep. 2026

Other current and former elite athletes like Lani Pallister, Gracie Kramer, Jocelyn Bartram, Julia Mancuso and Brianna Throssell have responded with their own social media posts that show off their athleticism. — Rosemary Feitelberg, Footwear News, 14 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1835, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for athleticism

• shamanism