athleticism

noun

ath·​let·​i·​cism ath-ˈle-tə-ˌsi-zəm How to pronounce athleticism (audio)
: athletic ability : the combination of qualities (such as speed, strength, and agility) that are characteristic of an athlete
These days they do standing backflips and other moves that require a high degree of athleticism—and endless practice.Cathy Booth Thomas

Examples of athleticism 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.
The length and athleticism make Carr the type of rookie who could make an immediate impact on defense, Lakers summer league coach Ty Abbott said. Los Angeles Times, 4 July 2026 The Nathan’s Famous contest is a mix of athleticism and testing human limits. Jennifer Borresen, USA Today, 3 July 2026 Willis has an experience and athleticism edge, and will likely open up an element of the offense Miami has rarely had because of his scrambling skills. Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 2 July 2026 So scoring is up, athleticism is up, prior era stars would still be valuable today, small ball doesn't lead to more runs and baseball is not losing fans, but gaining them. Ian Miller Outkick, FOXNews.com, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for athleticism

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1835, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of athleticism was circa 1835

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Athleticism.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/athleticism. Accessed 5 Jul. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on athleticism

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster