noun
decathlon
dee-KATH-lon
Decathlon (noun) means a track and field event made up of ten different disciplines, contested over two days. Example: “He won Olympic gold in the decathlon, combining sprinting, jumping, and throwing events.”
noun
1
A track and field event made up of ten different disciplines, contested over two days.
"He won Olympic gold in the decathlon, combining sprinting, jumping, and throwing events."
How to use decathlon
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA ten-event athletics contest that tests an all-round athlete.
Common pairings
Olympic decathlon
win the decathlon
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like decathlon.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- decathlons, decathla
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He won Olympic gold in the _____, combining sprinting, jumping, and throwing events.
Etymology
Coined from "dec-" ("ten") + "-athlon," modelled on "pentathlon," for the 1912 Stockholm Olympics.
Rhymes for decathlon
See all rhymes for decathlon →Frequently asked questions
What does “decathlon” mean?
The word “decathlon” means a track and field event made up of ten different disciplines, contested over two days. In plain terms, a ten-event athletics contest that tests an all-round athlete.
How do you pronounce “decathlon”?
“Decathlon” is pronounced dee-KATH-lon (/diːˈkæθlɒn/ in IPA).
How do you use “decathlon” in a sentence?
Here is “decathlon” used in a sentence: “He won Olympic gold in the decathlon, combining sprinting, jumping, and throwing events.”
What part of speech is “decathlon”?
“Decathlon” is a noun.
Where does the word “decathlon” come from?
The word “decathlon” dates back to around 1912. Coined from "dec-" ("ten") + "-athlon," modelled on "pentathlon," for the 1912 Stockholm Olympics.
