unathletic

adjective

un·​ath·​let·​ic ˌən-ath-ˈle-tik How to pronounce unathletic (audio)
 nonstandard  -ˌa-thə-ˈle-
: lacking the qualities (such as agility or muscular strength) characteristic of an athlete : not athletic
an unathletic physique
unathletically
ˌən-ath-ˈle-ti-k(ə-)lē How to pronounce unathletic (audio)
 nonstandard  -ˌa-thə-ˈle-
adverb
unathleticism
ˌən-ath-ˈle-tə-ˌsi-zəm How to pronounce unathletic (audio)
 nonstandard  -ˌa-thə-ˈle-
noun

Examples of unathletic 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.
Read More: Welcome to the Noah Lyles Olympics The small kid from Southlake, Texas, who was so unathletic that he got cut from a fifth-grade track team, has already scaled that 15-m climbing wall faster, during competition, than anyone in history. Sean Gregory, TIME, 5 Aug. 2024 Fast forward a few years and Bounds, previously a sedentary and unathletic journalist in her mid 40s, has transformed herself into world-class age-group obstacle course racer. Alex Hutchinson, Outside Online, 3 July 2024 Hopelessly unathletic and bad at sports, Sandy felt alienated by his family his entire life. Joe Otterson, Variety, 1 Feb. 2024 Researchers found that, over the course of an academic year, middle schoolers grew increasingly unpopular and more likely to misuse alcohol if they were considered unattractive and unathletic, and that such shortcomings are no longer seen as gender-specific. Rafil Kroll-Zaidi, Harper's Magazine, 16 Oct. 2023 See all Example Sentences for unathletic 

Word History

First Known Use

1759, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of unathletic was in 1759

Dictionary Entries Near unathletic

Cite this Entry

“Unathletic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/unathletic. Accessed 21 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on unathletic

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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