physical education

noun

: instruction in the development and care of the body ranging from simple calisthenic exercises to a course of study providing training in hygiene, gymnastics, and the performance and management of athletic games

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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

He teaches physical education at the high school.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Reilly began his career in 1972 as a physical education teacher at St. Matthew’s Parish School in Indian Orchard, Mass. IEEE Spectrum, 31 Jan. 2025 Diane Merida Lawton, a longtime Western High School physical education teacher, died of progressive supranuclear palsy Jan. 21 at Gilchrist Center Baltimore. Jacques Kelly, Baltimore Sun, 30 Jan. 2025 Abe left Irvine High in 2013 to teach physical education at South Lake Middle School in Irvine and be an assistant coach for Dusan Ancich at Villa Park. Michael Huntley, Orange County Register, 19 Dec. 2024 As any public school parent knows, funding sometimes falls short in areas like the arts and physical education, leaving families, communities and teachers themselves to make up the shortfall. Lesley O'Toole, Variety, 18 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for physical education 

Word History

First Known Use

1748, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of physical education was in 1748

Dictionary Entries Near physical education

Cite this Entry

“Physical education.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/physical%20education. Accessed 12 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

physical education

noun
: instruction in the care and development of the body

More from Merriam-Webster on physical education

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