1
gymnastics
jim-ˈna-stiks 
plural in form but singular in construction
plural in form but singular in construction
a
: physical exercises designed to develop strength and coordination
b
: a competitive sport in which individuals perform optional and prescribed acrobatic feats mostly on special apparatus in order to demonstrate strength, balance, and body control
2
: an exercise in intellectual or artistic dexterity
my earlier philosophic study had been an intellectual gymnastic—
John Dewey
John Deweymental gymnastics
3
: a physical feat or contortion
the gymnastics necessary for the killer to have swung from the fire escape—E. D. Radin
E. D. RadinExamples of gymnastic in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebGreg Rosenstein, NBC News, 30 July 2024
The 25-year-old’s impressive display on the apparatus helped push him and his Team USA teammates Paul Juda, Fred Richard, Brody Malone and Asher Hong to a bronze model, the U.S. men’s gymnastic team’s first Olympic medal in 16 years.
—Rachel Desantis, Peoplemag, 30 July 2024
Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2024
Coming off of a redemptive Paris Olympics, seven-time gold medalist Simone Biles and other members of the U.S. gymnastics team will be touring across America this fall.
—Analis Bailey, Axios, 9 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for gymnastic 
Adjective
The bronze is the first medal won by the U.S. men's gymnastic team in 16 years.
—Greg Rosenstein, NBC News, 30 July 2024
The 25-year-old’s impressive display on the apparatus helped push him and his Team USA teammates Paul Juda, Fred Richard, Brody Malone and Asher Hong to a bronze model, the U.S. men’s gymnastic team’s first Olympic medal in 16 years.
—Rachel Desantis, Peoplemag, 30 July 2024
Noun
When Simone Biles and her teammates won the gymnastics team gold, Snoop, far away from the diminutive prodigies but prominently placed among the crowd, smoothly danced in celebration, all shoulders and swaying torso.
—Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 9 Aug. 2024
Coming off of a redemptive Paris Olympics, seven-time gold medalist Simone Biles and other members of the U.S. gymnastics team will be touring across America this fall.
—Analis Bailey, Axios, 9 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for gymnastic
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gymnastic.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Gymnastic.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gymnastic. Accessed 19 Aug. 2024.
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