athleticism

noun

ath·​let·​i·​cism ath-ˈle-tə-ˌsi-zəm How to pronounce athleticism (audio)
: 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
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The Warriors led Games 3 and 4 at halftime, but Minnesota's balance and athleticism were too much down the stretch of those games for Golden State, which is heavily relying on Jimmy Butler III and Jonathan Kuminga offensively. Tyler Everett, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 May 2025 There is athleticism, power and acceleration over small distances, but a speedster like Frimpong is something the current squad doesn’t possess. James Pearce, New York Times, 14 May 2025 His three-point percentage has fallen below 34 percent over the past three seasons, and his athleticism—once a calling card—hasn’t aged well. Brian Sampson, Forbes.com, 14 May 2025 In terms of the branzino throw, that’s where my athleticism took hold. Alison Herman, Variety, 9 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for athleticism

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1835, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of athleticism was circa 1835

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Cite this Entry

“Athleticism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/athleticism. Accessed 19 May. 2025.

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