bodybuilding

noun

body·​build·​ing ˈbä-dē-ˌbil-diŋ How to pronounce bodybuilding (audio)
: the developing of the body through exercise and diet
specifically : the developing of the physique for competitive exhibition
bodybuilder noun

Examples of bodybuilding in a Sentence

She's been doing competitive bodybuilding for a few years now.
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.
Freediving was simple and quantifiable, like bodybuilding. Sean Williams, Outside, 27 Oct. 2025 Anabolic steroids — common in bodybuilding — are another trigger for breast changes and enlargement. Dr. Jamin Brahmbhatt, CNN Money, 26 Oct. 2025 In the comments of the post, Santos’s friends and followers posted remembrances for the late bodybuilding icon. Luke Chinman, PEOPLE, 22 Oct. 2025 Eating disorders, which Escalante said are already a major concern in the bodybuilding community, seem to be rising faster among men and boys than women and girls. Yasmin Tayag, The Atlantic, 17 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bodybuilding

Word History

First Known Use

1884, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bodybuilding was in 1884

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Cite this Entry

“Bodybuilding.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bodybuilding. Accessed 13 Nov. 2025.

Kids Definition

bodybuilding

noun
body·​build·​ing ˈbäd-ē-ˌbil-diŋ How to pronounce bodybuilding (audio)
: the developing of the body through exercise and diet
bodybuilder
-ˌbil-dər
noun

More from Merriam-Webster on bodybuilding

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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