Olympic
uh-LIHM-pihk
Olympic (adj) means relating to the Olympic Games, or of a scale and standard associated with them. Example: “The hotel has an olympic-sized swimming pool.”
adj
1
Relating to the Olympic Games, or of a scale and standard associated with them.
"A neighbouring training regiment built an Olympic running track in their camp because the already great runner National Serviceman 2nd Lieutenant (later the Honorable Sir) Christopher Chattaway had been posted there."
— Anthony Rosen, An Unordinary Life (2006)
"The hotel has an olympic-sized swimming pool."
"It took olympic effort to finish the marathon in that heat."
"I have heard it said that the young Chamber of Commerce have put on their future programme the project of building an Olympic swimming pool."
— , New Hebrides. Advisory Council (1971)
How to use Olympic
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo do with the Olympic Games, or (informally) impressively large-scale.
Common pairings
olympic-sized
olympic effort
olympic standard
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Word forms
- Plural
- Olympics
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The hotel has an _____-sized swimming pool.
Etymology
Came from Ancient Greek Ὀλυμπικός (Olumpikós), from Ὄλυμπος (Ólumpos, “Olympus”).
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “Olympic” mean?
The word “Olympic” means relating to the Olympic Games, or of a scale and standard associated with them. In plain terms, to do with the Olympic Games, or (informally) impressively large-scale.
How do you pronounce “Olympic”?
“Olympic” is pronounced uh-LIHM-pihk (/əˈlɪmpɪk/ in IPA).
How do you use “Olympic” in a sentence?
Here is “Olympic” used in a sentence: “The hotel has an olympic-sized swimming pool.”
What part of speech is “Olympic”?
“Olympic” is an adjective.
Is “Olympic” a common word?
“Olympic” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between Olympic and Olympian?
Olympic is an adjective describing the Games themselves — an Olympic medal, an Olympic record. Olympian is usually a noun for an athlete who competes in them, or an adjective meaning lofty and godlike, linked to Mount Olympus. So an Olympian wins Olympic events; the two words are related but not interchangeable.
What does Olympic-sized mean?
It describes something built to the scale set by Olympic competition, most famously an Olympic-sized swimming pool measuring fifty metres long. More loosely, calling anything Olympic-sized means it is impressively large or ambitious. The phrase borrows the Games' reputation for grand scale to suggest top-level standards and dimensions.
Why is it called Olympic?
The name comes from Olympia, the sanctuary in ancient Greece where the original Games were held in honour of the god Zeus. When the modern Games were revived in 1896, they kept the historic name. So Olympic literally means 'of Olympia,' tying today's competition to a tradition thousands of years old.
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