athlete

EN
noun

🇺🇸

/ˈæθ.lət/

🇺🇸

/ˈæθ.lət/

🇬🇧

/ˈæθ.lət/

🇬🇧

/ˈæθ.lət/

Word Forms

Plural

athletes

Description

An athlete is a person who is trained or skilled in sports, especially one who competes regularly at a high level — think sprinters dashing down the track, gymnasts flipping mid-air, or swimmers slicing through water with precision and power.

Examples

She became an Olympic athlete after years of rigorous daily training.

The university offers academic support programs specifically for student athletes.

Every athlete must follow strict anti-doping regulations to ensure fair competition.

He inspired thousands of young people to become serious athletes through his community sports camps.

Top athletes often work with nutritionists, physiotherapists, and mental performance coaches.

Root

athlos

Comes from the Ancient Greek noun 'áthlos' (ἄθλος), meaning 'contest', 'feat', or 'hard labor', especially in the context of physical competition. It conveys the idea of striving, endurance, and competitive effort. Examples include athlete, athletics, triathlon, decathlon, pentathlon.