Paralympics

plural noun

Para·​lym·​pics ˌper-ə-ˈlim-piks How to pronounce Paralympics (audio)
ˌpa-rə-
: a series of international contests for athletes with disabilities that are associated with and held following the summer and winter Olympic Games

called also Paralympic Games

Paralympian noun
Paralympic adjective

Examples of Paralympics in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web According to the International Paralympic Committee (IPC), this was the first Paralympics in which all 22 sports received live media coverage. Mark Lasota, Ph.d., Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024 Here’s What To Do My conversation with Gorder was coincident with the Paralympics Games happening in Paris. Steven Aquino, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2024 Italy, especially the cities of Milan and Cortina, is gearing up for the 2026 Winter Olympics, which will run Feb. 6 to 22, while the Paralympics will run March 6 to 15, 2026. Luisa Zargani, WWD, 3 Oct. 2024 The Paralympics saw over 4,400 athletes from 170 countries vying for 529 medals in 22 sports. Gyehyon Andrea Jo, Forbes, 1 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for Paralympics 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'Paralympics.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

para(plegic) + (O)lympics, later interpreted as para- entry 1 in sense "alongside of" + (O)lympics

First Known Use

1953, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Paralympics was in 1953

Dictionary Entries Near Paralympics

Cite this Entry

“Paralympics.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Paralympics. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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