a person trained or gifted in exercises or contests involving physical agility, stamina, or strength; a participant in a sport, exercise, or game requiring physical skill.
Origin of athlete
1520–30; <Latin āthlēta<Greek āthlētḗs, equivalent to āthlē- (variant stem of āthleîn to contend for a prize, derivative of âthlos a contest) + -tēs suffix of agency
pronunciation note for athlete
Athlete,athletic, and athletics, normally pronounced [ath-leet], /ˈæθ lit/, [ath-let-ik], /æθˈlɛt ɪk/, and [ath-let-iks], /æθˈlɛt ɪks/, are heard frequently with an epenthetic schwa, an intrusive unstressed vowel inserted between the first and second syllables: [ath-uh-leet], /ˈæθ əˌlit/, [ath-uh-let-ik], /ˌæθ əˈlɛt ɪk/, and [ath-uh-let-iks]. /ˌæθ əˈlɛt ɪks/. The pronunciations containing the extra syllable are usually considered nonstandard, in spite of their widespread use on radio and television. Pronunciations with similarly intrusive vowels are also heard, though with less currency, for other words, as [fil-uhm] /ˈfɪl əm/ for film,[el-uhm] /ˈɛl əm/ for elm, and [ahr-thuh-rahy-tis] /ˌɑr θəˈraɪ tɪs/ for arthritis, rather than the standard [film], /fɪlm/, [elm], /ɛlm/, and [ahr-thrahy-tis]. /ɑrˈθraɪ tɪs/.
OTHER WORDS FROM athlete
non·ath·lete,nounsu·per·ath·lete,noun
Words nearby athlete
Atherton, athetosis, A thing of beauty is a joy forever, athirst, athleisure, athlete, athlete's foot, athlete's heart, athletic, athletic heart, athletics
Where a fan 10 years ago had a coin-flip chance of attending a fracas, the modern-day one has less than a 17 percent chance of watching athletes drop the mitts.
Fighting Didn’t Stop In The NHL Bubble|Josh Planos|August 26, 2020|FiveThirtyEight
Ash, who often interacts and streams with fans on social media, has seen the number of esports athletes increase both in Pakistan and globally.
An Unlikely Esports Star Emerges From Pakistan|Daniel Malloy|August 21, 2020|Ozy
Neck gaiters, buffs—whatever you call them, the jersey-type loops of fabric that can be worn around the neck and over the face and nose—have been a favorite of athletes during the Covid-19 pandemic.
Don’t give up on your buff just yet|Katherine Ellen Foley|August 12, 2020|Quartz
Effectively, the ruling meant that clubs and teams in EU countries could sign players from nations that have free trade agreements with the bloc, without treating them as overseas athletes.
Guess Who’s Cheering for Brexit? South African Cricket|Charu Kasturi|August 12, 2020|Ozy
At the university level, students have more power as paying customers — and athletes in particular as revenue generators.
Is School Out Forever?|Daniel Malloy|August 9, 2020|Ozy
Nowhere to be found is the anguish, the drama, the pain of an athlete on that level who considering walking away.
The Story of the World’s Greatest Cricket Player|William O’Connor|December 24, 2014|DAILY BEAST
But I think that the more important question is will I see a benefit as an athlete?
Does Fasted Cardio Really Burn More Fat?|DailyBurn|August 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
What if I were a kid who looked up to an athlete, and that athlete made me want to do better in my own life, and then he left?
LeBron James Returns to Cleveland: How 'The Decision 2.0' Happened|Robert Silverman|July 11, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Ryan Totka, a celebrity booking agent and founder of sports marketing company Athlete Promotions, agrees.
Back Off, B*tches. There’s Only One Butt Selfie Queen|Cheryl Wischhover|May 9, 2014|DAILY BEAST
When an athlete, of any race, thanks God after an impressive feat, nobody takes note.
Matthew McConaughey’s God Moment|William O’Connor|March 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
It was blank on one side, but, at the sight of the reverse the athlete uttered a cry.
Batting to Win|Lester Chadwick
He flung aside the whole work, got to his feet with the imperative need of an athlete for the open.
Birthright|T.S. Stribling
The prince was an athlete, but the man holding him was at this moment made of iron.
The Lure of the Mask|Harold MacGrath
He fancied himself an athlete of possibilities and a supple dancer.
This Side of Paradise|F. Scott Fitzgerald
He is perfectly healthy, but he is slight, and will never be an athlete.
The Opinions of a Philosopher|Robert Grant
British Dictionary definitions for athlete
athlete
/ (ˈæθliːt) /
noun
a person trained to compete in sports or exercises involving physical strength, speed, or endurance
a person who has a natural aptitude for physical activities
mainlyBritisha competitor in track and field events
Word Origin for athlete
C18: from Latin via Greek athlētēs, from athlein to compete for a prize, from athlos a contest