Meaning & use
triathlete
Last updated
Meaning
nouncountablesport
A person who takes part in triathlons, races that combine swimming, cycling and running one after another.
Grammar: Plural: triathletes; usually names someone who trains or competes regularly.
Patterns
- a triathlete from somewhere
- a professional triathlete
The triathlete swam, biked and ran before sunset.
She became a triathlete after years as a swimmer.
Every triathlete must practice moving quickly between events.
Word forms
| plural | triathletes |
|---|
Common combinations
- professional triathlete
- He works as a professional triathlete.
- elite triathlete
- The elite triathlete finished first.
- train as a triathlete
- She trains as a triathlete at dawn.
- amateur triathlete
- An amateur triathlete can join local races.
- Olympic triathlete
- The Olympic triathlete won a medal.
Synonyms and how they differ
- athlete
- Athlete is a broad word for any sports competitor, while triathlete names someone in a specific three-part event.
- multisport athlete
- Multisport athlete is wider and can include other combinations, not only swim, bike and run.
- competitor
- Competitor is general and need not refer to sport.
- ironman
- Ironman is a brand and a very long triathlon; not every triathlete is one.
Word family
Commonly confused: triathlete or decathlete? triathlete or pentathlete?
triathlete vs decathlete
A decathlete competes in ten track and field events, while a triathlete competes in three.
triathlete vs pentathlete
A pentathlete competes in five events, often in the modern pentathlon.
Practice
A triathlete competes in a race combining swimming, cycling and ___.
Choose one answer.
A triathlon is swimming, cycling and running. Rowing, climbing and skating are not part of it.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “triathlete”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.