athlete

noun

ath·​lete ˈath-ˌlēt 

nonstandard

ˈa-thə-ˌlēt 

1

: a person who is trained or skilled in exercises, sports, or games requiring physical strength, agility, or stamina

2

: an animal (such as a horse or a dog) that competes in races or other sporting events or has qualities (such as stamina and agility) suggestive of a human athlete

Hospice working dogs were wiry, muscular, agile, yellowish-tan or brown athletes with unexaggerated heads …

—Deborah Lawson

Examples of athlete in a Sentence

Athletes from around the world will be competing at the Olympics.

She was quite an athlete as a child.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Kook Run is set to take off after a 7 a.m. welcome ceremony on Feb. 9, with thousands of runners, including world class athletes, competing for a $3,000 purse. —Linda McIntosh, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Feb. 2025

Its overall carb content is quite high, which actually makes this a great bar for runners or other endurance athletes looking for a snack or meal replacement that will keep them full and energized. —Megan Wahn, Bon Appétit, 3 Feb. 2025

For example, one study found that masters endurance athletes have elevated coronary artery calcium (CAC) scores compared to non-athletes, which on the surface is not good. —Dennis Lewon, Outside Online, 2 Feb. 2025

Her departure comes after a season plagued by a scandal involving a trans athlete, in which Batie-Smoose took a firm stance to oppose the university's defense of that athlete. —Jackson Thompson, Fox News, 1 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin athleta, from Greek athlētēs, from athlein to contend for a prize, from athlon prize, contest

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing athlete

• athlete's foot

Kids Definition

athlete

noun

ath·​lete ˈath-ˌlēt 

: a person who is trained in or good at games and exercises that require physical skill, endurance, and strength