athletics

Meanings

1. 1
   noun

   Physical activities such as sports and games requiring stamina, fitness and skill.

   The University of Phoenix, a for-profit educational institution, has turned the traditional relationship between athletics and higher education on its head, reducing it to its commercially exploitive essence.

2. 2
   noun

   an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition

3. 3
   noun

   participation in sports events as an extracurricular activity

4. 4
   noun

   a contest between athletes

5. 5
   noun

   A group of sporting activities including track and field, road running, cross country and racewalking.

6. 6
   noun

   plural of athletic

7. 7
   name

   The team The Oakland Athletics, previously Kansas City Athletics and Philadelphia Athletics.

8. 8
   name

   Nickname for many athletic teams whose full name includes "Athletics".

Etymology

From athletic: see -ics. Probably formed on the model of gymnastics.