athleisure

noun

ath·​lei·​sure ˈath-ˌlē-zhər 

-ˌle-,

-ˌlā-,

 nonstandard  ˈa-thə-

: casual clothing designed to be worn both for exercising and for general use

Of course, athleisure has lately become a fashion buzzword, a term intended to embrace the kind of clothing that a woman might be able to wear at work, to the gym, and then to dinner.

—Rob Haskell

—often used before another noun

Athleisure gear has reportedly unseated denim as the go-to clothing item of choice for teens.

—Nedra Rhone

Examples of athleisure in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Athleta Pinnacle High-rise Trousers $129 at Athleta Athleta's high-rise trousers feature breathable, quick-drying, and wrinkle-resistant fabric, blending elevated athleisure with polished style. —Jillian Dara, Travel + Leisure, 13 June 2025

On June 5, they were spotted leaving a pilates class while wearing coordinating athleisure ensembles — and carrying coordinating spill-proof cups. —Averi Baudler, People.com, 12 June 2025

These materials linger in landfill long after their athleisure lifecycle has ended. —Zoe Bayliss Wong, Forbes.com, 11 June 2025

Lululemon — The athleisure company pulled back 20% after its second-quarter outlook missed analysts’ estimates. —Fred Imbert, CNBC, 6 June 2025

Word History

Etymology

blend of athlete and leisure

First Known Use

1976, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for athleisure

• displeasure
• countermeasure
• leisure
• measure
• pleasure
• treasure

Kids Definition

athleisure

noun

ath·​lei·​sure

ˈath-ˌlē-zhər,

-ˌle-,

-ˌlā-

: casual clothing designed to be worn both for exercising and for general use