athlete
//ˈæθ.liːt//
Forms
- Plural
- athletes
Definitions
1.A participant in any of a group of sporting activities including track and field, road running, cross country running and racewalking.
2.A person who actively participates in physical sports, especially with great skill; a sportsperson.
- She's the first athlete in her sport to obtain a corporate sponsor.
3.An exceptionally physically fit person.
Frequency
Overall
Uncommon· #2169
By learning goal
- Everyday conversation
- Rare
- General reading & writing
- Uncommon
- Academic
- Rare
- Literature
- Rare
Etymology
From Middle English athlete
From Latin āthlēta (and probably also partly from Middle French athlete)
From Ancient Greek ἀθλητής (athlētḗs)
From ἀθλέω (athléō, “compete for a prize”)
From ἆθλον (âthlon, “prize”) or ἆθλος (âthlos, “competition”).