gymnastic

1 of 2

adjective

gym·​nas·​tic jim-ˈna-stik 

: of or relating to gymnastics : athletic

gymnastically

jim-ˈna-sti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

gymnastic

2 of 2

noun

1

gymnastics jim-ˈna-stiks  plural in form but singular in construction

a

: physical exercises designed to develop strength and coordination

b

: a competitive sport in which individuals perform optional and prescribed acrobatic feats mostly on special apparatus in order to demonstrate strength, balance, and body control

2

: an exercise in intellectual or artistic dexterity

my earlier philosophic study had been an intellectual gymnastic

—John Dewey

mental gymnastics

3

: a physical feat or contortion

the gymnastics necessary for the killer to have swung from the fire escape

—E. D. Radin

Examples of gymnastic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Following Biles’ birthday, the show flashes forward to the gymnastic Olympic trials in Minnesota and into the Paris games. —Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 25 Oct. 2024

But new Netflix documentary, Simone Biles: Rising, goes beyond the feats that cemented her as a gymnastic legend. —Susan Akyeampong, refinery29.com, 26 July 2024

Noun

Biles was honored once again this week, but for something that has nothing to do with gymnastics. —Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2024

Danny Ocean: Sigmund Freud said that music is to the soul what gymnastics is to the body. —Sigal Ratner-Arias, Billboard, 22 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1574, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1652, in the meaning defined at sense 1a