Pilates

noun

Pi·​la·​tes pə-ˈlä-tēz How to pronounce Pilates (audio)
: an exercise regimen that is typically performed on a floor mat or with the use of specialized apparatus and aims to improve flexibility and stability by strengthening the muscles and especially the torso-stabilizing muscles of the abdomen and lower back
Long popular with dancers, Pilates recently has attracted a huge surge of athletes, models, actors and other body-conscious folks.Patricia Hagen
She does intensive Pilates, deep-muscle floor exercises and stretches.Cosmopolitan

Examples of Pilates in a Sentence

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.
Cheney strength trains with kettlebells, runs and does Pilates. Sarah Handel, NPR, 17 Dec. 2024 Watch Party Newsletter Apple cider vinegar Is Pilates for you? USA TODAY, 16 Dec. 2024 Townhouse residents and their guests will be provided the same amenities as residents of the tower: two entrances, the main lobby on Third Avenue and a secret one on East 74th Street; a library with a wet bar and private garden; a children’s playroom; and a fitness center with a Pilates studio. Mark David, Robb Report, 13 Dec. 2024 No one knows for sure who invented the plank, but some credit Joseph Pilates, who created the Pilates exercise regimen in the early 1900s. Melanie Radzicki McManus, CNN, 13 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for Pilates 

Word History

Etymology

Joseph H. Pilates †1967 U.S. (German-born) fitness instructor

First Known Use

1934, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Pilates was in 1934

Dictionary Entries Near Pilates

Cite this Entry

“Pilates.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Pilates. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.

Medical Definition

Pilates

noun
Pi·​la·​tes pə-ˈlä-tēz How to pronounce Pilates (audio)
: an exercise regimen typically performed with the use of specialized apparatus and designed to improve the overall condition of the body
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!