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

With new authenticity, athletes exhibit their real-life mannerisms and skills for an enhanced gaming experience. —Lauren Fischer, People.com, 29 Nov. 2024

However, the athlete may also redeem herself in the 100-meter breaststroke, her Olympic gold winning event. —Paras J. Haji, Forbes, 29 Nov. 2024

About 17% of people with recurrent concussions or traumatic brain injuries will get CTE, but around 90% of people who develop CTE are athletes—particularly football players and boxers.2 CTE typically causes changes in your cognition (thinking), mood, behavior, and movement ability. —Janelle McSwiggin, Msn, Health, 29 Nov. 2024

Like most elite athletes, Senna, played with fierce determination by Gabriel Leone, inherited an early love for racing and paired it with his inflexible determined personality, an unrelenting desire to be the best which shaped his relationships with family, teammates, and competitors. —Jake Kring-Schreifels, TIME, 29 Nov. 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