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

• gymnast
• turner

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

This is done by acrobats, who shuffle themselves up a 50-foot pole to grab bags with playing orders suspended high above the square. —John Last, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Dec. 2024

There are acrobats with striped costumes and animal-like ears who engage in a lengthy pillow fight. —Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 3 Dec. 2024

Related article Chinese acrobat falls to her death during mid-air performance with husband Online footage of that incident showed the couple being pulled high into the air by a crane above a large outdoor stage. —Nectar Gan, CNN, 28 Nov. 2024

There will also be live performances, artisan vendors and acrobats. —Richard Guzman, Orange County Register, 25 Nov. 2024

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

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