athleticism en · NOUN
Pronunciation
Etymology
Etymology tree Ancient Greek ᾱ̓θλητῐκός (āthlētĭkós)bor. Latin āthlēticuslbor. Middle French athletiquebor. English athletic Proto-Indo-European *-id- Proto-Indo-European *-yéti Proto-Indo-European *-idyéti Proto-Hellenic *-íd͏̌d͏̌ō Ancient Greek -ῐ́ζω (-ĭ́zō) Proto-Indo-European *-mos Proto-Indo-European *-mós Ancient Greek -μός (-mós) Ancient Greek -ισμός (-ismós)der. English -ism English athleticism From athletic + -ism.
Meanings
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(countable, uncountable) The state of being an athlete, or of taking part in athletic events.
It catches an American athleticism and energetic team spirit that still seem to smash European notions of ballet classicism, as does its dancers’ selfless manner and their practicelike costumes.
2008 June 9, Alastair Macaulay, “In Student Steps and Leaps, a Survey of National Styles”, in The New York Times, archived from the original on 28 Jan 2025:
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(countable, uncountable) A show of athletic prowess.
Both Alcaraz and Sinner pushed themselves - and each other - to the limit in a classic contest that showcased all of their shot-making, athleticism and resilience.
2025 June 8, Jonathan Jurejko, “Alcaraz stuns Sinner in extraordinary French Open final”, in BBC:
Forms
| Spelling | Features | Labels | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| athleticisms | Number=Plur | lexicographic |
Translations (1)
uk атлети́зм (athletic prowess/state of being an athlete)