breaststroke

noun

breast·​stroke ˈbres(t)-ˌstrōk 

: a swimming stroke executed in a prone position by coordinating a kick in which the legs are brought forward with the knees together and the feet are turned outward and whipped back with a glide and a backward sweeping movement of the arms

breaststroker

ˈbres(t)-ˌstrō-kər 

noun

Examples of breaststroke in a Sentence

I'll be competing in the 50-meter breaststroke.

Recent Examples on the Web

Olsen also finished second in the 100 breaststroke with a time of 1:23.06. —Pioneer Press, Twin Cities, 8 Feb. 2025

In fact, the breaststroke is slower than the butterfly. —John Cherwa, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2024

Lilly King, the world record-holder in the women’s 100-meter breaststroke, missed the podium by one-hundredth of a second. —Nicole Auerbach, The Athletic, 1 Aug. 2024

France’s Leon Marchand lit up the crowd, winning two gold medals and setting Olympic records in the 200 butterfly and the 200 breaststroke. —Rick Maese, Washington Post, 31 July 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1864, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

breaststroke

noun

breast·​stroke ˈbres(t)-ˌstrōk 

: a swimming stroke performed by extending the arms in front of the head while drawing the knees forward and outward and then sweeping the arms back with palms out while kicking backward and outward