noun B2 Upper-Intermediate Uncommon

athletics

ath-LEH-tihks

Athletics (noun) means Track and field sports such as running, jumping, and throwing. Example: “She represented her country in athletics at the Olympics.”

noun

Track and field sports such as running, jumping, and throwing.

"She represented her country in athletics at the Olympics."

Physical sports and games in general, especially as a school or organized activity.

"The university invests heavily in its athletics programs."

How to use athletics

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishTrack and field events, or organized sport more broadly (especially in American English).

UK vs US

In British English, "athletics" usually means track and field specifically; American English uses "athletics" more broadly for school sports in general.

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She represented her country in _____ at the Olympics.

Etymology

From athletic, formed with the suffix -ics on the model of words like "gymnastics."

Synonyms

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track and field

Rhymes for athletics

genetics cosmetics aesthetics prosthetics

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Frequently asked questions

What does “athletics” mean?

The word “athletics” means track and field sports such as running, jumping, and throwing. In plain terms, track and field events, or organized sport more broadly (especially in American English).

How do you pronounce “athletics”?

“Athletics” is pronounced ath-LEH-tihks (/æθˈlɛtɪks/ in IPA).

How do you use “athletics” in a sentence?

Here is “athletics” used in a sentence: “She represented her country in athletics at the Olympics.”

What part of speech is “athletics”?

“Athletics” is a noun.

Is “athletics” a common word?

“Athletics” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.

How many meanings does “athletics” have?

“Athletics” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: track and field sports such as running, jumping, and throwing.

What is the difference between athletics and sports?

Athletics specifically refers to track and field events such as running, jumping, and throwing, while sports is a much broader term covering any organized physical activity or game, including athletics as one category among many.

Is athletics singular or plural?

Athletics is grammatically treated as a singular, uncountable noun even though it ends in 's', so it takes a singular verb, as in 'athletics is popular at the school'.

What is the difference between athletics and gymnastics?

Athletics covers track and field disciplines like running, jumping, and throwing, while gymnastics involves separate events focused on balance, flexibility, and apparatus routines. They are distinct sporting categories, though both can fall under the broader sense of athletics as organized physical activity.