athletic

athletic — adjective

1. physically fit and strong, and able to do sports well

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

physically fit and strong, and able to do sports well

Example

Even at sixty, Coach Rivera looks athletic and moves quickly.

linking verb: look athletic

Nina became more athletic after two years on the rowing team.

become + athletic after training

Common collocations
  • athletic build
  • athletic body
  • athletic child
  • look athletic
  • become more athletic
Synonyms
  • fit

    mainly stresses good physical condition, not always skill in sports

  • sporty

    is more informal and can also describe a style of clothes

  • strong

    focuses on power and does not always suggest sports ability

  • agile

    stresses quick and easy movement rather than overall fitness

Antonyms
  • unathletic

    is the direct opposite for someone not naturally good at sport

  • clumsy

    suggests awkward movement rather than low fitness alone

  • out of shape

    focuses on poor physical condition, especially from lack of exercise

Grammar Patterns

an athletic child

look athletic

become more athletic

Usage Note

Often used after be, look, and become, or before nouns such as build and body. Distinguish from adjective/2, which describes sports-related things like departments, shoes, or scholarships rather than a person's physical condition.

Common Mistakes

Mina is athletic in volleyball.
Mina is athletic.' / 'Mina is good at volleyball.
athletic does not usually take 'in' before a sport.
He became very athletics after college.
He became very athletic after college.
use the adjective athletic, not the noun athletics.

2. connected with sports or with people who take part in them

2.adjectiveB1
Definition

connected with sports or with people who take part in them

Example

The college opened a new athletic center beside the library.

before noun: athletic center

Our school gives athletic scholarships to talented runners.

collocation: athletic scholarship

Common collocations
  • athletic center
  • athletic department
  • athletic scholarship
  • athletic shoes
  • athletic awards
Synonyms
  • sports

    is the most common everyday alternative before nouns, as in sports shoes

  • sporting

    is often more British and can sound slightly more formal

  • exercise

    is narrower and fits activities or clothes more than full programs or offices

Grammar Patterns

athletic department

athletic scholarship

athletic shoes

Usage Note

Usually used before a noun. Common with words naming organizations, places, money, or equipment, such as department, center, scholarship, and shoes. Distinguish from adjective/1, which describes a person's body or sports ability.

Common Mistakes

These shoes are athletic.
These are athletic shoes.' / 'These shoes are for sports.
this sense is mainly used before a noun.
She works in the athletic.
She works in the athletic department.
this sense normally needs a following noun.

Word family

  • athlete
    nounB1
  • athletics
    nounB1
  • athletically
    adverbC1
  • athleticism
    nounC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

For sense 1, athletic is broader than fit. Fit mainly says the body is healthy and in good condition, while athletic often also suggests skill or comfort in sports. Sporty is more informal and may describe a person's style or interest in sports, not real physical ability. Strong focuses on power, so a strong person is not always athletic. Agile stresses quick, light movement. An athletic teenager may be strong and agile, but the word usually gives the fuller picture of someone who looks or moves like a good sports player. You can say 'Lena is fit after cycling to work,' but 'Lena is athletic enough to join the school team.'

athletic ↗fit ↗sportystrong ↗agile ↗

Etymology

GreekLatinFrenchEnglish

Athletic came into English in the 1600s from French or Latin forms based on Greek athletikos. That Greek word grew from a verb meaning to compete for a prize. Because of that history, athletic has stayed close to the world of games and contests, whether it describes a fit person or something connected with sport.