athletic
adjective
ath·let·ic
ath-ˈle-tik 
nonstandard
ˌa-thə-ˈle-
2
3
: used by athletes
athletic shoes/equipment
the school's athletic fields
4
Examples of athletic in a Sentence
They each received an athletic scholarship to the school.
Students can get discount tickets for all athletic events.
His athletic career spanned three decades.
She has great athletic ability.
She's tall and has an athletic build.
Recent Examples on the Web
And while track and field adopted the dual-advancement and dual-medal system, the policy does not easily translate to head-to-head contact sports or other athletic competitions, creating what critics see as a glaring inconsistency across the state.
—
Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2026
Julian Champagnie took over Harrison Barnes’ starting spot in San Antonio and has been an athletic upgrade who is durable and reliable while providing accurate volume shooting.
—Law Murray, New York Times, 18 May 2026
As part of the 45-unit Belfiore, the penthouse—on the market for $11 million with Justin Dugat and Misty Meredith at Douglas Elliman—also comes with access to the building’s amenities, which include a pool, athletic club, and dog park.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 18 May 2026
Social media pressure, geopolitical instability, technological disruption, and expanding public scrutiny have made athletic life more complicated than ever.
—Tim Genske, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for athletic
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Alejandro Avila Outkick, FOXNews.com, 19 May 2026
Julian Champagnie took over Harrison Barnes’ starting spot in San Antonio and has been an athletic upgrade who is durable and reliable while providing accurate volume shooting.
—Law Murray, New York Times, 18 May 2026
As part of the 45-unit Belfiore, the penthouse—on the market for $11 million with Justin Dugat and Misty Meredith at Douglas Elliman—also comes with access to the building’s amenities, which include a pool, athletic club, and dog park.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 18 May 2026
Social media pressure, geopolitical instability, technological disruption, and expanding public scrutiny have made athletic life more complicated than ever.
—Tim Genske, Forbes.com, 18 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for athletic
Cite this Entry
“Athletic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/athletic. Accessed 21 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
athletic
adjective
ath·let·ic
ath-ˈlet-ik
1
: of, relating to, or characteristic of athletes or athletics
2
3
athleticism
noun
ath-ˈlet-ə-ˌsi-zəm
Medical Definition
athletic
adjective
ath·let·ic
ath-ˈlet-ik
: characterized by heavy frame, large chest, and powerful muscular development : mesomorphic
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