somersault

noun

som·​er·​sault ˈsə-mər-ˌsȯlt 

variants or less commonly summersault

: a movement (as in gymnastics) in which a person turns forward or backward in a complete revolution along the ground or in the air bringing the feet over the head

also : a falling or tumbling head over heels

somersault intransitive verb

Examples of somersault in a Sentence

The gymnast turned a somersault.

Recent Examples on the Web

At one point, three young men carrying a boom box got on the train and took positions as if getting ready to put on a show that was most likely going to include somersaults. —James Barron, New York Times, 25 Feb. 2025

These bots, which weigh less than a gram, feature flapping wings that not only allow for extended flights, but also increased agility – enough to pull off somersaults and trace infinity symbols in the air. —New Atlas, 22 Feb. 2025

The somersaults seem to be a byproduct of the dragonfly flicking its tail to get rid of excess water. —Byelizabeth Pennisi, science.org, 13 Jan. 2025

There would be no somersaults, no flipping, no spinning without permission—seriously, no horsing around of any kind. —Nicola Twilley, WIRED, 11 Feb. 2020

Word History

Etymology

Middle French sombresaut leap, ultimately from Latin super over + saltus leap, from salire to jump — more at over, sally

First Known Use

circa 1530, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for somersault

• millivolt
• thunderbolt
• alt
• fault
• gault
• halt
• malt
• sault
• vault
• walt
• asphalt
• assault

Kids Definition

somersault

1 of 2 noun

som·​er·​sault

ˈsəm-ər-ˌsȯlt

: a leap or roll in which a person turns heels over head

somersault

2 of 2 verb

: to perform a somersault

Etymology

from early French sombresaut "somersault," derived from Latin super "over" and saltus "leap," from salire "to jump" — related to resilient