Athletic

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /æθˈlɛt.ɪk/

Definitions

1. Relating to physical fitness, sports, or activities requiring strength, speed, and coordination
2. Connected to the qualities or characteristics of physical competition, emphasizing strength, speed, and coordination in activities
3. Pertaining to the attributes associated with physical sports and fitness, highlighting capabilities like strength, speed, and coordination in various activities

Etymology: The idea at the heart of "athletic" is the contest, not the body. Ancient Greek "athlētēs" meant a competitor who strove for a prize in the games, and the adjective "athlētikos" described whatever belonged to such a person. The root behind it is "athlon", a prize or contest, which gives the whole family its sense of struggle for an award. English took the word through Middle French "athletique" and Latin "athlēticus", so the adjective arrived already carrying the Greek notion of trained competition. Over time its reach widened from the arena to any physical ability, which is why we now speak of an athletic build or an athletic gait even when no game is being played. Japanese later borrowed the English word for an obstacle course, and that usage came back into English through video games in the form of the Super Mario sense. The term thus travelled from Greek contests to English gymnasiums, then to Japan, and back again.

Synonyms: fit, sporty, active

Antonyms: unathletic