athlete

noun

ath·​lete ˈath-ˌlēt 

nonstandard

ˈa-thə-ˌlēt 

1

: a person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina

2

: an animal (such as a horse or a dog) that competes in races or other sporting events or has qualities (such as stamina and agility) suggestive of a human athlete

Hospice working dogs were wiry, muscular, agile, yellowish-tan or brown athletes with unexaggerated heads …

—Deborah Lawson

Examples of athlete in a Sentence

Athletes from around the world will be competing at the Olympics.

She was quite an athlete as a child.

Recent Examples on the Web

Virginia passed a law permitting colleges to pay their student athletes through name, image, and compensation deals, and other states are following suit. —Paige McGlauflin, Fortune, 22 Apr. 2024

The Opening Ceremony will be the first ever held in a city center, with gigantic Olympic rings to be displayed on the Eiffel Tower overlooking the Seine, on which a swarm of boats will carry athletes toward the Tower. —Paris Wilson, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Apr. 2024

The campaign features the artist wearing a hoodie and compression leggings in black, like an athlete, holding a pair in all six of his hands. —Essence, 22 Apr. 2024

Saberhagen was an exceptional athlete, also playing shortstop and moonlighting as a basketball player. —Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 21 Apr. 2024

Clark’s Indiana Fever No. 22 became the top-selling jersey ever on draft night of any athlete in any sport, according to licensed sportswear retailer Fanatics. —Troy Renck, The Denver Post, 20 Apr. 2024

The former two-star recruit and UTEP transfer is an explosive athlete with sprinter speed. —Eddie Brown, San Diego Union-Tribune, 20 Apr. 2024

As a celebrity Swift partners with others: her model and musician friends, her actor/musician/athlete consorts, brands, even (warily) political causes. —Ann Powers, NPR, 19 Apr. 2024

To nominate an athlete for next week’s poll, email [e-mail] by Monday at 11 a.m. Please include stats and team results. —Darren Sabedra, The Mercury News, 19 Apr. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin athleta, from Greek athlētēs, from athlein to contend for a prize, from athlon prize, contest

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing athlete

• athlete's foot

Kids Definition

athlete

noun

ath·​lete ˈath-ˌlēt 

: a person who is trained in or good at games and exercises that require physical skill, endurance, and strength