Meaning & use
javelin
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Meanings
nouncountable
A long, light spear thrown as far as possible in an athletic competition.
Grammar: Countable: a javelin, the javelin, two javelins.
Patterns
- throw the javelin
- a javelin throw
She threw the javelin almost sixty meters.
The athletes lined up with their javelins ready.
noununcountable
The track-and-field event in which competitors throw a javelin for distance.
Grammar: Used without an article when talking about the sport: compete in javelin.
Patterns
- compete in the javelin
- the javelin event
He won gold in the javelin at the national championships.
Javelin is one of the throwing events in athletics.
nouncountable
A spear used as a weapon in the past, especially by soldiers or hunters.
Grammar: Countable; often in historical or military contexts.
Patterns
- carry a javelin
- throw a javelin
Ancient warriors used javelins in battle.
The museum displays a javelin from the Roman army.
Word forms
| plural | javelins |
|---|
Common combinations
- throw the javelin
- He can throw the javelin over 80 meters.
- javelin thrower
- She is a talented javelin thrower.
- javelin event
- The javelin event was postponed due to rain.
- compete in the javelin
- He will compete in the javelin at the Olympics.
- a javelin throw
- Her first javelin throw was the best of the day.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
- javelin thrower noun
- A person who throws the javelin in competition.
Commonly confused: javelin or javelina?
javelin vs javelina
A javelina is a wild pig-like animal of the Americas, not a spear. The words look similar but are unrelated.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'javelin' correctly?
Choose one answer.
A javelin is thrown for distance, so 'threw the javelin' is correct. The other options describe actions or contexts that do not fit a spear or throwing event.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “javelin”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.