Definitions
01a sportsperson
A2 · Elementary Countable noun Sports
n. a person who plays sports, especially one who is very skilled or competes professionally.
n. a person who actively participates in physical sports, often characterized by high levels of skill and competitive engagement.
“The young athlete spent every morning training at the local swimming pool.”
“Professional athletes often follow strict dietary and recovery protocols to maintain peak performance throughout the competitive season.”
Synonyms
02track and field competitor
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun Sports British English
n. someone who competes in running, jumping, or throwing events.
n. a participant in track and field events, such as sprinting, long jump, or shot put.
“The Olympic athlete won a gold medal in the hundred-metre sprint.”
“The decathlon requires an athlete to demonstrate versatility across ten distinct track and field disciplines over two days.”
Usage
In British English, 'athlete' specifically refers to track and field competitors rather than all sportspeople.
Teaching tip
Note the regional difference: in the US, a basketball player is an athlete, but in the UK, they are usually just called a player.
03a physically fit person
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a person who is very strong, healthy, and good at physical activities.
n. an individual possessing exceptional physical fitness, strength, or agility, regardless of professional status.
“Even though he doesn't play for a team, he is a natural athlete who excels at any sport he tries.”
“She was a natural athlete, possessing the kind of innate coordination and stamina that made difficult physical tasks look effortless.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Serena Williams’s praise of weight-loss drugs highlights a debate playing out among researchers: Should the medications be banned for most athletes?” “Female athletes have spoken out against a controversial sports gambling advert starring actress Sydney Sweeney.” “The Tokyo Olympics will be remembered for the spotlight they shone on mental health, when even the toughest athletes opened up on the need to care for more than limbs and ligaments.” “So far 98 athletes have tested positive for banned substances in the re-tests which were ordered after "an intelligence-gathering process that started in August 2015".” Etymology
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”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Common
- Level
- A2 · ElementaryOxford
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/athlete
「カタカナ語」 data: JMdict (EDRDG), CC BY-SA 4.0