athletic

See also: Athletic

English

Alternative forms

• athletick (obsolete)

Etymology

From French athlétique and Latin āthlēticus, from Ancient Greek ἀθλητικός (athlētikós, “relating to an athlete”), from ἀθλητής (athlētḗs, “athlete”): equivalent to athlete +‎ -ic. For more, see athlete.

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA^(key): /æθˈlɛt.ɪk/
• Rhymes: -ɛtɪk

Adjective

athletic (comparative more athletic, superlative most athletic)

1. (not comparable) Having to do with athletes.

   Are you a member of the American Athletic Association?

2. Physically active.

   Since you're such an athletic person, you may wish to consider joining.

3. Having a muscular, well developed body, being in shape.

   You have such an athletic build—you must work out regularly.

4. An attribute of a motion or play which requires fine physical ability.

   The center fielder made an athletic play to snatch the ball from over the fence.

Derived terms

• athletics
• unathletic
• athleticness

Related terms

• athlete

Translations

having to do with athletes

• Albanian: atletik (sq)
• Bulgarian: атлетски (atletski)
• Esperanto: atleta (eo)
• French: athlétique (fr), sportif (fr)
• German: athletisch (de), sportlich (de)
• Greek: αθλητικός (el) (athlitikós)
• Hungarian: atlétikai (hu)

• Italian: atletico (it)
• Polish: sportowy (pl) m
• Portuguese: atlético (pt)
• Romanian: atletic (ro) m
• Russian: атлети́ческий (ru) (atletíčeskij), спорти́вный (ru) (sportívnyj)
• Spanish: atlético m

physically active

• Albanian: atletik (sq)
• Bulgarian: атлетичен (atletičen)
• Esperanto: atleta (eo)
• Finnish: atleettinen (fi), urheilullinen (fi)
• Hungarian: atletikus

• Italian: atletico (it), sportivo (it)
• Japanese: 強壮 (きょうそう, kyōsō)
• Russian: атлети́чный (ru) (atletíčnyj)
• Scots: leish
• Spanish: atlético m

having a muscular, well developed body, being in shape

• Albanian: atletik (sq)
• Bulgarian: атлетичен (atletičen)
• Esperanto: atleta (eo)
• Finnish: atleettinen (fi)
• French: athlétique (fr)
• Greek: αθλητικός (el) (athlitikós)
• Hungarian: atletikus
• Italian: atletico (it)

• Japanese: 強壮 (きょうそう, kyōsō)
• Polish: wysportowany m
• Portuguese: atlético (pt)
• Romanian: atletic (ro)
• Russian: богаты́рский (ru) (bogatýrskij), атлети́ческий (ru) (atletíčeskij)
• Spanish: atlético m
• Swedish: atletisk (sv)

an attribute of a motion or play which requires fine physical ability

• Albanian: atletik (sq)
• Esperanto: atleta (eo)
• Finnish: atleettinen (fi), urheilullinen (fi)

• Hungarian: atletikus
• Italian: atletico (it)