English Reference
noun

stamina

n.
US /ˈstæmənə/ UK /stˈæmɪnɐ/ stami·na UK spelling staminas

  1. 01 B2 Upper Intermediate

    the strength and energy that allow you to continue a difficult activity for a long time.

    the physical or mental capacity for sustained exertion or resistance to hardship and fatigue.

    Simple

    You need a lot of stamina to run a full marathon without stopping.

    In context

    The long-distance cyclist demonstrated incredible stamina by maintaining a high speed throughout the final mountain stage of the race.

    Usage

    Usually uncountable; often used in contexts of sports, long work hours, or difficult life situations.

    endurancestaying powerresilience
  2. 02 C2 Proficiency Technical Science

    the plural form of 'stamen', which is the part of a flower that produces pollen.

    the plural form of stamen; the pollen-bearing male organs of a flower.

    Simple

    The scientist looked closely at the stamina of the lily under a microscope.

    In context

    In certain older botanical texts, the term stamina is used to refer collectively to the androecium of the flowering plant.

    Usage

    The plural form 'stamina' is rare in modern botany; 'stamens' is the standard plural.


From Latin stāmina, plural of stāmen.

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

This entry
Origin Latin stāmina
Level B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated