breaststroke

noun

breast·​stroke ˈbres(t)-ˌstrōk 

: a swimming stroke executed in a prone position by coordinating a kick in which the legs are brought forward with the knees together and the feet are turned outward and whipped back with a glide and a backward sweeping movement of the arms

breaststroker

ˈbres(t)-ˌstrō-kər 

noun

Examples of breaststroke in a Sentence

I'll be competing in the 50-meter breaststroke.

Recent Examples on the Web

Watch out for La Costa Canyon freshman Aubrey Martinez, who led qualifying in the 200 IM and the 100 breaststroke. —Glae Thien, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2026

Corona del Mar’s Sofia Szymanowski flashed her improvement in the 100 breaststroke. —Dan Albano, Oc Register, 8 May 2026

The person swimming in the lane next to mine was doing the breaststroke and hit me with her leg, under the lane rope, on two consecutive laps. —Judith Martin, Sun Sentinel, 11 Apr. 2026

Serou placed second in the 100-yard breaststroke at Division 1 states and the Dual County League championships. —Tyler McManus, Boston Herald, 7 Apr. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1864, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for breaststroke

• awoke
• baroque
• bespoke
• colloque
• convoke
• evoke
• invoke
• keystroke
• kinfolk
• kinsfolk
• menfolk
• provoke

Kids Definition

breaststroke

noun

breast·​stroke ˈbres(t)-ˌstrōk 

: a swimming stroke performed by extending the arms in front of the head while drawing the knees forward and outward and then sweeping the arms back with palms out while kicking backward and outward