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
The two Lake Forest public school districts are preparing for the 2026–27 school year with the hiring of a new safety chief and a future high school athletic director.
—
Daniel I. Dorfman, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
Williams, who serves as a co-chair for the 2026 Met Gala, is no stranger to making history—for both her athletic prowess and her confident, expressive approach to dressing on and off the court.
—Max Berlinger, Vogue, 4 May 2026
Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd’s decision to pass on North Carolina and remain with the Wildcats brought him a raise, more money for his staff and a new chain of command, as the school’s president will make more high-level determinations for the program, rather than the athletic director.
—Chris Vannini, New York Times, 4 May 2026
Buxton knows the plan — a fighting retreat that saves ownership money but still gives the team the chance to regroup and compete for a division title with strong starting pitching and an aggressive, small-ball approach from a young, athletic lineup.
—John Shipley, Twin Cities, 4 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for athletic
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Daniel I. Dorfman, Chicago Tribune, 4 May 2026
Williams, who serves as a co-chair for the 2026 Met Gala, is no stranger to making history—for both her athletic prowess and her confident, expressive approach to dressing on and off the court.
—Max Berlinger, Vogue, 4 May 2026
Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd’s decision to pass on North Carolina and remain with the Wildcats brought him a raise, more money for his staff and a new chain of command, as the school’s president will make more high-level determinations for the program, rather than the athletic director.
—Chris Vannini, New York Times, 4 May 2026
Buxton knows the plan — a fighting retreat that saves ownership money but still gives the team the chance to regroup and compete for a division title with strong starting pitching and an aggressive, small-ball approach from a young, athletic lineup.
—John Shipley, Twin Cities, 4 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 5 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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