stamina

noun

stam·​i·​na ˈsta-mə-nə 

1

: the bodily or mental capacity to sustain a prolonged stressful effort or activity : endurance

a workout program that builds strength and stamina

These horses are bred for speed and stamina.

The use of pharmaceuticals to enhance memory, focus, and mental stamina in healthy brains is known generally as cognitive enhancement …

—Paul McFedries

2

: the moral or emotional strength to continue with a difficult process, effort, etc. : staying power

The network of obligations to family and community underpinned the soldier's moral stamina …

—Joseph Allan Frank

Examples of stamina in a Sentence

Do you have the stamina to finish the job?

Recent Examples on the Web

In a 2024 survey of third-to-eighth-grade teachers, more than 80 percent said that their students’ reading stamina had declined since 2019. — Rose Horowitch, The Atlantic, 8 July 2026

Plus, their ultra-light, ergonomic ear casings secure up to 50 hours of total charge capsule stamina with rapid quick-charge support. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 6 July 2026

Having taken charge of around 5,500 matches over a 46-year officiating career, the great-grandfather credits his longevity and match-day stamina to a lifetime of healthy habits and a foundational diet, news agency SWNS reported. — Khloe Quill, FOXNews.com, 5 July 2026

The Estadio Azteca, which will host the England game, sits 2,240 metres above sea level, which not only gives the hosts an acclimatisation advantage but shifts greater focus onto physical stamina and endurance. — Colin Millar, New York Times, 4 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin, plural of stamen warp, thread of life spun by the Fates

First Known Use

1726, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for stamina

• lamina

Kids Definition

stamina

noun

stam·​i·​na ˈstam-ə-nə 

: vigor sense 1, endurance

Medical Definition

stamina

noun

stam·​i·​na ˈstam-ə-nə 

: the strength or vigor of bodily constitution : capacity for standing fatigue or resisting disease

restoration of weight, strength and stamina following recovery from major surgery

—The Journal of the American Medical Association