gymnastics
jihm-NAS-tihks
Gymnastics (noun) means a sport involving controlled, athletic movements that demand strength, flexibility, and balance. Example: “She has practised gymnastics since she was five years old.”
noun
1
A sport involving controlled, athletic movements that demand strength, flexibility, and balance.
"Gymnastics was a significant part of the physical education curriculum."
"She has practised gymnastics since she was five years old."
2
Complex or impressive feats of skill, used figuratively.
"The lawyer performed some impressive mental gymnastics to justify the decision."
How to use gymnastics
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe sport of tumbling, vaulting and balance routines — or, figuratively, an impressively convoluted feat of reasoning ("mental gymnastics").
Easily confused with
Common pairings
mental gymnastics
gymnastics competition
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Word forms
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She has practised _____ since she was five years old.
Etymology
From Greek gymnastikos, related to gymnastes ("athlete"), from gymnos ("naked").
Synonyms
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Rhymes for gymnastics
See all rhymes for gymnastics →Frequently asked questions
What does “gymnastics” mean?
The word “gymnastics” means a sport involving controlled, athletic movements that demand strength, flexibility, and balance. In plain terms, the sport of tumbling, vaulting and balance routines — or, figuratively, an impressively convoluted feat of reasoning ("mental gymnastics").
How do you pronounce “gymnastics”?
“Gymnastics” is pronounced jihm-NAS-tihks (/d͡ʒɪmˈnæs.tɪks/ in IPA).
How do you use “gymnastics” in a sentence?
Here is “gymnastics” used in a sentence: “She has practised gymnastics since she was five years old.”
What part of speech is “gymnastics”?
“Gymnastics” is a noun.
Where does the word “gymnastics” come from?
The word “gymnastics” comes from Greek. From Greek gymnastikos, related to gymnastes ("athlete"), from gymnos ("naked").
Is “gymnastics” a common word?
“Gymnastics” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “gymnastics” have?
“Gymnastics” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a sport involving controlled, athletic movements that demand strength, flexibility, and balance.
Is gymnastics singular or plural?
Gymnastics ends in "s" but is treated as a singular noun, so it takes a singular verb, as in "gymnastics is a demanding sport." This is the same pattern seen in other -ics sports and subjects like athletics or mathematics.
What is the difference between gymnastics and acrobatics?
Gymnastics is a formal sport with defined disciplines, apparatus, and scoring systems that test strength, flexibility, and balance, while acrobatics is a broader term for agile physical feats that can appear in circuses, dance, or street performance without the same competitive structure. Gymnastics can include acrobatic movements, but not all acrobatics counts as gymnastics.
