athlete
English · Thesaurus
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athlete
- /ˈæθ.liːt/ UK
- /ˈæθ.lit/ Canada, US
- /ˈæθ.ə.liːt/
Rhymes with -æθliːt
Where it comes from
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”).
noun athletes
- A participant in any of a group of sporting activities including track and field, road running, cross country running and racewalking.
- 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.
- An exceptionally physically fit person.
Similar: sportsperson, competitor, jock, pro, sportsman, sportswoman · Opposite: nonathlete
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: jock, marathoner, athletic, gym, sports, sport, skater, sporting, sportsmanship, sportsman, player, linebacker, golfer, swimmer, carding, competitor
noun
Similar: sportsperson, competitor, jock, pro, sportsman, sportswoman · Opposite: nonathlete
Translations
Every language
noun participant in track and field, road running, cross country running, or racewalking
| Español | atleta |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 육상 경기(陸上競技) 선수 yuksang gyeonggi seonsu, 육상 선수 yuksang seonsu |
| 日本語 | 陸上競技の選手 rikujō kyōgi no senshu, 陸上選手 rikujō senshu |
| 中文 | 田徑運動員 /田径运动员 tiánjìng yùndòngyuán |
| Kiswahili | mwanariadha |
| Português | atleta |
| Français | athlète |
| Deutsch | Athlet, Athletin, Sportler, Sportlerin |
| Italiano | atleta |
| Ελληνικά | αθλητής athlitís, αθλήτρια athlítria |
| Русский | легкоатле́т lexkoatlét, легкоатле́тка lexkoatlétka |
| Tiếng Việt | vận động viên |
noun person who actively participates in physical sports
| Español | atleta |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 운동선수 undongseonsu, 선수 seonsu |
| 日本語 | 運動選手 undō senshu, 選手 senshu |
| 中文 | 運動員 /运动员 yùndòngyuán |
| हिन्दी | खिलाड़ी khilāṛī |
| Kiswahili | mwanariadha |
| Português | atleta |
| Français | athlète, sportif, sportive |
| Deutsch | Sportler, Sportlerin, Athlet, Athletin |
| Italiano | atleta, sportivo, sportiva |
| Ελληνικά | αθλητής athlitís, αθλήτρια athlítria |
| Română | atlet, atletă |
| Русский | спортсме́н sportsmén, спортсме́нка sportsménka, атле́т atlét, атле́тка atlétka |
| Tiếng Việt | nhà thể thao |
| العربية | رِيَاضِيّ riyāḍiyy, رِيَاضِيَّة riyāḍiyya |
| עברית | אַתְלֶט atlét |
noun exceptionally physically fit person
| Español | persona atlética |
|---|---|
| Français | athlète |
| Română | persoană atletică, atlet |
Talk about this word "athlete." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/athlete. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. athlete. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/athlete "athlete." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/athlete.Cite this
@misc{athlete_2026,
title = {athlete},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/athlete},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
