physical education
noun
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The Importance (Linguistic and Otherwise) of Physical Education
Physical education has existed since ancient times, but it wasn’t until several hundred years ago that the term itself (abbreviated as phys ed or PE) came into being. Its earliest known use comes, oddly enough, from a 1748 book titled Critical Reflections on Poetry, Painting, and Music: “Cannot some years prove more favorable than others to the physical education of children. . . ?” A few decades after these words were published, gymnasiums opened across Europe, especially in Germany, where gymnastics associations (or turnvereins) fostered physical health as well as civic involvement and cultural enrichment. Thanks in part to immigration, these clubs, and European enthusiasm for athletics in general, spread to the U.S. During the 19th century, American educators adopted European methods of teaching physical training, and both the word physical education and the phenomenon it represents became well established in this country.
Examples of physical education in a Sentence
Karen Billing, San Diego Union-Tribune, 17 June 2025
In addition to her baseball legacy, Jochum earned her bachelor's and master's degree in physical education at Illinois University and went on to became a Physical Education and Social Studies Teacher at Muessel School for 27 years before retiring in 1983, her obituary said.
—Natasha Dye, People.com, 12 June 2025
The 27-year Jeffco Public Schools physical education teacher, who officially retired last week, is a Field Day diehard.
—Kyle Newman, Denver Post, 4 June 2025
The first is a hybrid physical education course for 11th and 12th grade students that will take place during the school’s zero hour.
—Molly Morrow, Chicago Tribune, 4 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for physical education
Cite this Entry
“Physical education.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/physical%20education. Accessed 25 Jun. 2025.
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