modern pentathlon

noun

: a composite contest in which all contestants compete in a 300-meter freestyle swim, a 4000-meter cross-country run, a 5000-meter 30-jump equestrian steeplechase, épée fencing, and target shooting at 25 meters

Examples of modern pentathlon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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In effect, obstacle course racing has replaced equestrian show jumping as one of modern pentathlon’s five events. Blythe Lawrence, Forbes.com, 19 May 2025 Showjumping will be replaced by obstacle racing, a decision that kept the sport in the Olympics, the IOC said in a statement, following a widespread outcry during Tokyo 2020 when Germany’s modern pentathlon coach, Kim Raisner, was disqualified for hitting a horse. Issy Ronald, CNN, 12 Aug. 2024 There are also medal events in handball, modern pentathlon, track cycling, water polo, weightlifting and wrestling. Hunter Patterson, The Athletic, 10 Aug. 2024 The Paris 2024 Olympics were clearly saving the best for last — no, not the big finals in basketball, soccer, volleyball, or even the modern pentathlon. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 9 Aug. 2024 See All Example Sentences for modern pentathlon

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1912, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of modern pentathlon was circa 1912

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Cite this Entry

“Modern pentathlon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/modern%20pentathlon. Accessed 11 Sep. 2025.

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