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
Deborah LawsonExamples 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
In the men’s 50-meter backstroke semis, two Russians competing as neutral athletes, Kliment Kolesnikov and Pavel Samusenko, were the top qualifiers.
—Zack Pierce, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2025
But there were exemptions for athletes participating in the World Cup, the Olympics, or other major sporting events as determined by the secretary of state.
—Scott Simon, NPR, 2 Aug. 2025
Several other professional athletes also attended the signing, including Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker.
—Christopher Rudolph, People.com, 1 Aug. 2025
Squirrels are incredible little athletes, and their antics are fun to watch.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for athlete
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Zack Pierce, New York Times, 2 Aug. 2025
But there were exemptions for athletes participating in the World Cup, the Olympics, or other major sporting events as determined by the secretary of state.
—Scott Simon, NPR, 2 Aug. 2025
Several other professional athletes also attended the signing, including Kansas City Chiefs kicker Harrison Butker.
—Christopher Rudolph, People.com, 1 Aug. 2025
Squirrels are incredible little athletes, and their antics are fun to watch.
—Arricca Elin Sansone, Southern Living, 1 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for athlete
Cite this Entry
“Athlete.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/athlete. Accessed 8 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationKids 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
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