aerobic
adj.adj. relating to exercise that makes your heart and lungs stronger by using more oxygen. You use this to describe activities like running, swimming, or cycling.
adj. relating to, involving, or requiring free oxygen. In a fitness context, it describes physical exercise of low to high intensity that depends primarily on the aerobic energy-generating process.
Running is a great aerobic exercise for your heart.
To improve your cardiovascular health, doctors recommend at least thirty minutes of aerobic activity five days a week.
While sprinting relies on anaerobic pathways for quick bursts of power, long-distance cycling is primarily aerobic, requiring a steady supply of oxygen to sustain muscle performance over several hours.
From French aérobie, coined in 1863 by Louis Pasteur, from Ancient Greek ἀήρ (aḗr, “air”) + βίος (bíos, “life”) + -ic.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Typically used attributively before a noun like 'exercise', 'activity', or 'capacity'.
Last updated May 7, 2026