acrobat

noun

ac·​ro·​bat ˈa-krə-ˌbat 

1

: one that performs gymnastic feats requiring skillful control of the body

2

a

: one skillful at exercises of intellectual or artistic dexterity

b

: one adept at swiftly changing or adapting a position or viewpoint

a political acrobat

Synonyms of acrobat

• gymnast

Examples of acrobat in a Sentence

a child who is a natural acrobat with a superb sense of balance

a political acrobat whose opinion on any issue is whatever will get the most votes

Recent Examples on the Web

Sometimes, these genetic acrobats would jump into the middle of a purple pigment gene and interfere with its function, producing a speckled cell. — Jake Buehler, Quanta Magazine, 21 Sep. 2026

In that game, players kick a ball over a net and show off their skills as acrobats. — ABC News, 20 Sep. 2026

The show — about a traveling circus — boasts an ensemble with as many acrobats as actors, all of whom must warm up prior to performing. — Jenelle Riley, Los Angeles Times, 14 Sep. 2026

This was a heavyweight prize fight between two of the biggest stars in the sport, an American athletic acrobat of the highest order, and an artist in the sweet science of the game, capable of playing a version of tennis familiar to no one else. — Matthew Futterman, New York Times, 9 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French acrobates, acrobate, borrowed from Middle Greek akrobátēs "tightrope walker," agent derivative of Greek akróbatos "walking on tiptoe," from akro- acro- + -batos, verbal adjective from baínein "to walk, go" — more at come entry 1

First Known Use

1827, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for acrobat

• autocrat
• automat
• bundesrat
• bureaucrat
• butterfat
• caveat
• chemostat
• copycat
• cryostat
• democrat
• diplomat
• guzerat

Kids Definition

acrobat

noun

ac·​ro·​bat ˈak-rə-ˌbat 

: a person (as a circus performer) who is very good at stunts like jumping, balancing, tumbling, and swinging from things

acrobatic

ˌak-rə-ˈbat-ik 

adjective

acrobatically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb