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

Ahead of the 2024 election, Clark was asked about possibly endorsing Vice President Kamala Harris’s presidential run, as the athlete had liked a social media post from Taylor Swift in which the singer endorsed Harris. —Asher Notheis, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 11 Dec. 2024

The athlete’s first instinct was correct — Swift performed a total of 149 shows over the course of the Eras Tour‘s run. —Hannah Dailey, Billboard, 11 Dec. 2024

In an extensive interview with the publication, the athlete known for her logo 3s and expert passes offers her own perspective on her transformative accomplishments — and the consequences of being in the spotlight. —Anna Lazarus Caplan, People.com, 10 Dec. 2024

Law enforcement officials noted these groups target the homes on days the athletes have games. —Leah Sarnoff, ABC News, 10 Dec. 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