English Reference
Noun

mountaineering

n.
B2 Upper Intermediate US /ˈmaʊntɪˌnɪɹɪŋ/ UK /mˌaʊntɪnˈiəɹɪŋ/ moun·taineer·ing Sports

n.the sport or activity of climbing mountains. It usually involves using special equipment like ropes and boots to reach high places.

n.the sport or activity of climbing mountains, typically involving the use of specialized equipment and techniques to navigate steep terrain.


SIMPLE

He spends his summer holidays on mountaineering trips.

CONTEXTUAL

The local club organizes several mountaineering expeditions to the nearby peaks every spring.

COMPLEX

While casual hiking is common, true mountaineering requires a high level of physical fitness and technical skill to manage the unpredictable weather and steep gradients found at higher altitudes.

The skiing and mountaineering packs proved popular with college students looking for a way to keep their books dry in rainy Seattle, where JanSport had set up shop.

Smithsonian Magazine· 1 Sept 2026

To complete the Scottish Mountaineering Club challenge, hikers must tick off every Munro, Munro Top, Corbett, Graham and Donald in Scotland - as well as every Furth in England, Wales and Ireland too.

BBC News· 23 Aug 2026

From mountaineer + -ing.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Occasional
Updated