Words / B2

ath-LET-ik/æθˈletɪk/

Athletic means physically strong and good at sports, or connected with athletics: an athletic build, an athletic scholarship. Sporty is the everyday British adjective; fit is about health and stamina, not necessarily skill. Athletics is the sport (track and field). In speech, sporty or fit is more natural. Do not use athletic for a chess champion unless you mean their body, not their brain.

Meaning

Physically strong and good at sports.

Examples

• “She has an athletic build from years of training.”
• “Years of rowing gave her an athletic frame.”
• “The school has an athletic programme as well as a music one.”

Good to know

Sporty / of athletics. Everyday: sporty / fit. Noun: athletics (track and field). Not a synonym for talented in general.

Near in meaning

sporty

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