1
: the quality or state of being fit
2
: the capacity of an organism to survive and transmit its genotype to reproductive offspring as compared to competing organisms
also
: the contribution of an allele or genotype to the gene pool of subsequent generations as compared to that of other alleles or genotypes
Synonyms
Examples of fitness in a Sentence
a gymnastics program promoting fitness and agility in school-aged children
I have to question the fitness of wearing a bright red dress to a funeral.
Recent Examples on the Web
But most Democratic analysts believe those policy arguments will take a back seat to big-picture questions about personality, character and fitness for office.
—
Noah Bierman, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2023
Cycle syncing states that women can reach the peak of their wellness, fitness, nutrition, and even mental health goals by syncing their workouts, diet, and lifestyle to the four phases of their menstrual cycle.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 27 Sep. 2023
In its third and final season, Sheila's status within the fitness world was challenged by rising celebrity Kelly Kilmartin, played by Zooey Deschanel.
—Dory Jackson, Peoplemag, 27 Sep. 2023
But Biden's age and fitness for office, almost three out of four in our poll.
—Nbc Universal, NBC News, 24 Sep. 2023
The Series 8 still offers fast performance, all the same fitness tracking capabilities, and supports newer features like Crash Detection and watchOS 10.
—Brandon Widder, The Verge, 23 Sep. 2023
The global wellness market — including nutrition, fitness, sleep and mindfulness, among other areas — was estimated to be $1.5 trillion last year, with annual growth of 5% to 10%, according to a 2022 report by McKinsey & Co.
—Teresa Xie, Fortune, 22 Sep. 2023
Live well every day with tips and guidance on food, fitness and mental health, delivered to your inbox every Thursday.
—Timothy Bella, Washington Post, 21 Sep. 2023
There’s also a sports simulator, a movie theater, a dedicated room for video games and virtual reality experiences, and a large fitness center replete with spin, cardio, yoga, and personal training studios.
—Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 18 Sep. 2023
See More
Noah Bierman, Los Angeles Times, 27 Sep. 2023
Cycle syncing states that women can reach the peak of their wellness, fitness, nutrition, and even mental health goals by syncing their workouts, diet, and lifestyle to the four phases of their menstrual cycle.
—Stephanie McNeal, Glamour, 27 Sep. 2023
In its third and final season, Sheila's status within the fitness world was challenged by rising celebrity Kelly Kilmartin, played by Zooey Deschanel.
—Dory Jackson, Peoplemag, 27 Sep. 2023
But Biden's age and fitness for office, almost three out of four in our poll.
—Nbc Universal, NBC News, 24 Sep. 2023
The Series 8 still offers fast performance, all the same fitness tracking capabilities, and supports newer features like Crash Detection and watchOS 10.
—Brandon Widder, The Verge, 23 Sep. 2023
The global wellness market — including nutrition, fitness, sleep and mindfulness, among other areas — was estimated to be $1.5 trillion last year, with annual growth of 5% to 10%, according to a 2022 report by McKinsey & Co.
—Teresa Xie, Fortune, 22 Sep. 2023
Live well every day with tips and guidance on food, fitness and mental health, delivered to your inbox every Thursday.
—Timothy Bella, Washington Post, 21 Sep. 2023
There’s also a sports simulator, a movie theater, a dedicated room for video games and virtual reality experiences, and a large fitness center replete with spin, cardio, yoga, and personal training studios.
—Emma Reynolds, Robb Report, 18 Sep. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fitness.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
1580, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing fitness
Dictionary Entries Near fitness
Cite this Entry
“Fitness.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fitness. Accessed 2 Oct. 2023.
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Medical Definition
fitness
noun
fit·ness
ˈfit-nəs 
: the capacity of an organism to survive and transmit its genotype to reproductively fertile offspring as compared to competing organisms
also
: the contribution of an allele or genotype to the gene pool of subsequent generations as compared to that of other alleles or genotypes
More from Merriam-Webster on fitness
Nglish: Translation of fitness for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of fitness for Arabic Speakers
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