Sports & Fitness Vocabulary: 290 Key English Terms

A session of physical exercise done to improve fitness, strength or skill, such as a run, a gym session or a class.

To do physical exercise, especially in a gym or as a regular habit, in order to get fitter or stronger.

Light exercise done before training or competition to raise body temperature and heart rate and prepare the muscles and joints for harder work.

A period of easy exercise and stretching at the end of a session that helps the body return gradually to a resting state.

Short for repetition: one complete performance of an exercise, such as lifting and lowering a weight once or doing one push-up.

A group of repetitions of an exercise done one after another without stopping, followed by a short rest.

Short for cardiovascular exercise: activities like running, cycling or rowing that keep your heart rate raised for a sustained period.

Exercise in which muscles work against resistance, such as weights, machines, bands or body weight, in order to become stronger.

A day in a training plan with no hard exercise, planned so that the body can recover and adapt.

Short for high-intensity interval training: short bursts of very hard exercise alternating with brief recovery periods.

The principle of gradually increasing the demands on the body, such as weight, reps or volume, so that it keeps adapting and improving.

A stage when progress stops for a while, for example when your weight, strength or race times stay the same despite training.

A planned series of workouts over weeks or months that sets out the exercises, sets, reps, intensity and rest needed to reach a goal.

A workout in which you move quickly from one exercise or station to the next with little rest, usually repeating the whole series several times.

An informal way of saying to go to the gym to exercise, often used to show energy or determination.

A workout method that alternates short periods of hard effort with easier recovery periods or rest.

Training that mixes different activities to improve overall fitness, reduce boredom, and lower repeated stress on the same muscles.

The total amount of stress created by training, based on volume, intensity, and frequency over a period of time.

The total amount of work done in training over a session or period, often counted by sets, reps, distance, or time.

The level of effort or difficulty in exercise, often judged by speed, load, heart rate, or how hard it feels.

A short training cycle, usually about a week, that groups sessions and recovery within a longer plan.

A block of training lasting several weeks and organised around a particular goal within a longer plan.

A planned short period of easier training in which load, volume or intensity is reduced to manage fatigue.

Two exercises performed one after the other with little or no rest between them.

A set continued with a lighter weight after the original weight becomes too difficult to lift again.

Exercises that use a quick muscle stretch followed by a powerful action, such as repeated jumps.

Running training that mixes faster and slower efforts, often using changes in terrain or informal targets.

A sustained run at a controlled, comfortably hard effort, used in endurance training.

A race or training effort in which the second half is completed faster than the first.

An estimate of how many more repetitions someone could complete before being unable to finish another.

A workout instruction meaning as many rounds or repetitions as possible within a stated limit.

A workout format in which a task starts every minute, with any remaining time used for rest.

How often a person trains within a given period, usually counted as sessions per week.

The amount of time a muscle spends producing force against resistance during a repetition or set.

A building or room with equipment for physical exercise, such as weights, machines and treadmills; also called a fitness centre or health club.

A short bar with a weight at each end, held in one hand; used singly or in pairs for exercises such as curls, presses and rows.

A long metal bar with weight plates added at each end, held with both hands for exercises such as squats, deadlifts and bench presses.

An exercise machine with a moving belt on which you walk or run on the spot, with controls for speed and incline.

A round cast-iron weight with a handle on top, used for swinging, lifting and carrying exercises.

A stretchy elastic band used to add resistance to exercises or to assist movements, made in different strengths.

To stand next to someone who is lifting a heavy weight, ready to help if they cannot finish the lift safely.

Weights that are not attached to a machine, such as dumbbells, barbells and kettlebells, so the user has to control and balance them.

A room at a gym, pool or stadium where people change clothes, shower and keep their things in lockers.

A firm foam cylinder that you lie or roll on to put pressure on your muscles, used in warm-ups and recovery.

A gym bench whose backrest or seat can be set at different angles for various strength exercises.

A flat training ladder placed on the ground for footwork drills that improve speed, coordination, and movement control.

A gym station with uprights that hold a barbell at adjustable heights for squats, presses, and other barbell lifts.

A gym machine that uses adjustable pulleys and weight stacks to provide resistance through many movement angles.

A flat, usually round piece of metal or other material added to a barbell or machine to increase resistance.

A set of plates on a gym machine, with a selector pin determining how many plates move during an exercise.

A weighted ball used for exercises such as throws, catches and controlled lifting.

An exercise machine on which repeated pulling and leg movements imitate rowing a boat.

An exercise machine with moving foot platforms that follow an oval path, often with moving handles.

An exercise bicycle that stays in one place while the rider pedals against resistance.

A firm belt worn around the waist during weight training to give the lifter something to brace against.

Strips wrapped around the wrists and a bar or handle to help maintain a grip during lifting.

A weight plate covered or made largely with resilient material and designed for lifts where the bar may be dropped.

A platform with an unstable base on which a person stands to practise controlled balance.

A rope swung over the head and under the feet as the user repeatedly jumps over it.

An exercise in which you bend your knees and hips to lower your body as if sitting down, then stand up again; done with body weight or a load.

A body-weight exercise in which you face the floor, keep your body straight and push yourself up and down with your arms.

To lengthen a muscle by moving part of the body and holding the position, to improve flexibility or to relax after exercise.

A lift in which you pick up a loaded barbell from the floor until you are standing upright, mainly working the back, glutes and hamstrings.

An exercise in which you lie on a flat bench and push a barbell or dumbbells up from your chest until your arms are straight.

A core exercise in which you hold your body in a straight line, supported on your forearms or hands and your toes, without moving.

An exercise in which you take a long step forward or backward and bend both knees to lower your body, then push back up to standing.

An exercise in which you hang from a bar with your palms facing away and pull your body up until your chin is above the bar.

The way an exercise or movement is performed; good form means correct, safe and efficient technique.

An exercise that uses your own body as resistance instead of machines, weights, or other external load.

An exercise that uses multiple joints and muscle groups at the same time, rather than isolating one small area.

An exercise designed to mainly target one muscle or muscle group while limiting help from other muscles.

The part of a movement where the working muscle lengthens while controlling the load, usually during the lowering portion.

The part of a movement when the working muscle shortens while producing force, such as lifting a weight upward.

A movement in which the hips bend while the trunk tips forward and the knees bend only slightly.

An exercise in which the upper back rests on a support while the hips lift upward, often against a load.

An exercise combining a squat, a move into a plank and a return to standing, often with a jump or push-up.

An exercise in a high plank position in which the knees are brought toward the chest one at a time.

An exercise in which a weight is pushed from shoulder level to a position above the head.

An exercise in which a seated person pulls an overhead bar or handle down against resistance.

An exercise in which the legs push a loaded platform away from the body on a machine.

A pulling exercise in which a cable or band is drawn toward the face with the elbows moving outward.

An exercise in which a person moves from lying down to standing while keeping a weight raised in one hand.

A weightlifting movement that takes a barbell from the floor to overhead in one continuous action.

A weightlifting movement that takes a barbell from the floor to the shoulders and then overhead in two stages.

A position in which the body is held upside down with its weight supported on the hands.

A sideways movement in which the hands touch the ground in turn and the legs pass over the body.

An exercise in which a person raises the trunk from lying on the back toward a sitting position.

An exercise in which the elbow bends to lift a weight toward the shoulder.

An exercise in which the arms lift out to the sides against resistance.

An exercise in which the knee straightens against resistance, commonly while sitting on a machine.

An exercise in which the heels rise against body weight or another resistance, either while standing or while seated.

An exercise in which the elbows straighten to push a cable handle or band downward.

A soft body tissue that can contract and relax to move parts of the body; skeletal muscles are attached to bones by tendons.

One of the three muscles at the back of the thigh that bend the knee and extend the hip; the group is usually called the hamstrings.

The large group of four muscles at the front of the thigh that straighten the knee; often shortened to quads.

The muscles around the middle of the body, including the abdominals, lower back, obliques and hips, that keep the trunk stable during movement.

Short for abdominals: the muscles at the front of the stomach, especially the rectus abdominis, which gives the "six-pack" shape.

Short for gluteal muscles: the muscles of the buttocks, mainly the gluteus maximus, medius and minimus, which move and stabilise the hips.

The ability of muscles and joints to move through a wide range of motion, for example touching your toes or doing the splits.

The ability to move a joint actively and with control through its full range of motion; it depends on strength and joint health as well as flexibility.

A tough band of tissue that connects a muscle to a bone, such as the Achilles tendon at the back of the ankle.

A strong band of tissue that connects two bones at a joint and keeps the joint stable, for example in the knee or ankle.

The rounded shoulder muscles that help lift, rotate, and stabilize the arms during many upper-body movements.

The chest muscles at the front of the upper body that help move the arms and support pushing actions.

The large flat muscle on each side of the back that helps pull the arm down and back.

A large upper-back and neck muscle that helps move, rotate, and stabilize the shoulder blades and support posture.

Upper back muscles between the spine and shoulder blades that pull the shoulders back and help keep the shoulder blades stable.

The muscle at the front of the upper arm that helps bend the elbow and turn the palm upward.

The muscle at the back of the upper arm that straightens the elbow.

Abdominal muscles along the sides of the trunk that help turn and bend it and support its position.

A group of muscles that bring the thigh toward the trunk or help bend the body at the hip.

A calf muscle beneath the gastrocnemius that helps point the foot downward and supports standing.

The large two-headed calf muscle that helps point the foot downward and bend the knee.

A motor nerve cell and all the muscle fibres that it controls.

Physical damage to the body, such as a torn muscle, a sprained ankle or a broken bone, especially one that stops an athlete from training or playing.

The process of the body returning to normal after training, competition or injury, helped by rest, sleep and nutrition.

An injury in which a ligament, the tissue that joins bones at a joint, is stretched or torn, often at the ankle, knee or wrist.

An injury in which a muscle or tendon is overstretched or partly torn, often in the hamstring, calf or groin.

Short for delayed onset muscle soreness: the stiffness and pain felt in muscles a day or two after hard or unfamiliar exercise.

Short for anterior cruciate ligament: a key ligament inside the knee that connects the thigh bone to the shin bone and keeps the knee stable.

Informal for physiotherapist or physiotherapy: the health professional who assesses and treats injuries with exercise, hands-on therapy and other methods.

Unable to play or compete for a period of time, usually because of an injury or illness.

A brain injury caused by a blow to the head or a violent shake of the body, which can cause headache, dizziness, confusion or loss of consciousness.

A mild painful or tender feeling in muscles or body parts, often after exercise, strain, or repeated movement.

An injury that develops gradually from repeated stress on tissues, rather than from one sudden accident or collision.

An injury in which muscle fibers are partially or fully torn, usually after sudden force or overstretching.

A dark mark on the skin caused by a hit or pressure that breaks small blood vessels under the surface.

A first-aid mnemonic naming rest, ice, compression, and elevation in discussions of some soft-tissue injuries.

Pain along the shin, commonly linked to repeated running or jumping loads.

A small crack in a bone caused by repeated loading rather than one sudden impact.

The process of resuming sport after injury or illness, usually through stages and an assessment of readiness.

A small raised pocket of fluid under the skin, often caused in sport by repeated rubbing.

Skin irritation caused by repeated rubbing against clothing, equipment or other skin.

A sports competition between two players or teams, such as a game of football, tennis or boxing, that ends with a result.

To win a point, goal or run in a game; as a noun, the number of points each side has, as in "The score is 2–1".

A competition in which many players or teams take part in a series of matches or rounds, often ending with a final and a winner.

The official who controls a match, makes sure the rules are followed and makes decisions such as fouls, penalties and cards.

A result in which both teams or players finish with the same score, so neither wins; also the event that decides who plays whom.

A group of teams or players who compete against each other over a season, earning points for results and ranked in a table.

The best time, distance, weight or score an athlete has ever achieved in a particular event or exercise; often shortened to PB or PR.

The person or team you are playing or competing against in a match, race or contest.

To defeat a person or team in a game or competition; also to do better than a time or a record.

To earn a place in a competition or in its next stage by winning, finishing high enough or reaching a required standard.

The use of banned substances or methods to improve sports performance, which breaks anti-doping rules and can lead to bans.

The part of the year when there are no official competitions in a sport, used for rest, recovery, transfers and building fitness for the next season.

A tie-breaking stage in some sports where players take turns trying to score after regular play ends in a draw.

A unit in a scoring system, or a single score won during a game, match, or contest.

A chart that shows teams or competitors ranked by the points they have earned in a league or tournament.

A competition round or event that decides which athletes or teams can move on to the next stage.

A place in the next round of a competition gained without playing in the current round.

A part of a competition in which losing a match or tie removes a player or team from the event.

The combined score from two or more matches that together decide the result of a tie.

An attempt to begin a race before the permitted starting signal or in breach of its starting rules.

A race finish so close that an image taken at the finish line is needed to establish the order.

A race result in which two or more competitors are officially recorded as finishing level.

A win awarded because an opponent does not take part in a scheduled contest.

To lose a contest or right to compete because of a rule breach, withdrawal or failure to take part.

A point that would win the entire match if the player or team holding it wins the next point.

A level score of 40–40 in tennis, from which a player normally needs two consecutive points to win the game.

Two unsuccessful serves in a row on the same point in tennis, causing the server to lose that point.

The time recorded for a particular section or at an intermediate point in a race.

The speed of movement in a race or workout, often expressed in running as time per unit of distance.

One complete circuit of a track or course in a race or training session.

A marked strip of a track or pool assigned to a competitor or used to separate movement.

An abbreviation for did not finish, used when a competitor starts an event but does not complete it.

Removal from a contest or its results because a participant has broken a rule.

A raised platform on which the top finishers stand during a prize ceremony.

A small metal award given for an achievement or placing in a competition.

The person or team that finishes second in a competition.

A sport in which players play together as a team against another team, such as football, basketball, volleyball or handball.

A long-distance running race of 42.195 kilometres (26.2 miles), usually held on roads; the word is also used for any very long event.

An endurance race in which athletes swim, cycle and then run, one straight after the other, over set distances.

Traditional systems of fighting and self-defence, such as karate, judo, taekwondo and kung fu, practised as sport, exercise or discipline.

The group of sports that includes running races, jumping and throwing events, held on a running track and the field inside it.

A swimming event in which any stroke may be used, in practice almost always front crawl; the word also names styles in wrestling, skiing and other sports.

To start a point in tennis, volleyball, badminton or table tennis by hitting the ball or shuttlecock to the opponent; as a noun, the shot itself.

A sport in which success depends largely on sustaining effort, pace, and energy over a long time or distance.

A sport where two competitors oppose each other directly using controlled fighting techniques under agreed rules.

A sport in which players use a racket to hit a ball or shuttle, usually over a net or against a wall.

A sport in which one athlete mainly competes alone, even if coaches or support staff help with training and preparation.

A sport done in, on, or under water, such as rowing, surfing, sailing, or diving.

An athletics competition in which each athlete takes part in ten events and receives a combined points total.

An athletics competition made up of seven events, with results converted into a combined points total.

A running race on a track that includes fixed barriers and a water jump.

A sport in which competitors use a map, often with a compass, to find checkpoints along a route.

A multisport race usually consisting of running, cycling and then running again.

A competitive sport based on the snatch and the clean and jerk.

A form of football played by small teams on a hard court, using a ball with reduced bounce.

A team court sport in which players pass a ball and shoot it through a raised ring without a backboard.

A team sport played in a pool in which players pass and throw a ball to score in the opponent's goal.

A racket sport in which players hit a shuttlecock over a net and try to land it inside the opponent's court.

A racket sport played on a table divided by a low net, using a small light ball.

A form of basketball played in sports wheelchairs, with rules adapted for movement in the chair.

Running races over outdoor ground such as grass, earth and hills rather than only on roads or a track.

A swimming stroke performed on the back, usually with alternating arm movements and a flutter kick.

A swimming stroke using matching outward arm movements and a simultaneous outward-and-back leg kick.

A swimming stroke in which both arms move together over the water while both legs make a dolphin kick.

A team sport in which players pass and bounce a ball and score by throwing it through a raised basket.

A team sport in which players hit a ball over a high net and try to make it land in the opposing court.

A racket sport in which players hit a ball over a net, usually after no more than one bounce on their side.

A combat sport in which opponents use gloved punches under agreed rules.

A combat sport based on gripping, controlling and bringing an opponent to the ground.

A martial art and combat sport using throws, holds and other grappling techniques.

A martial art using techniques such as punches, kicks and blocks, practised through forms and partner work.

A Korean martial art and combat sport especially known for its kicking techniques.

A practice combining body positions, breathing and attention, used in fitness settings as well as wider traditions.

An exercise method using controlled movements, breathing and trunk stability, on a mat or specialised equipment.

A sport involving controlled balances, jumps, turns and other movements on the floor or apparatus.

Moving through water using the arms, legs and body, as a sport or form of exercise.

Riding a bicycle as exercise or sport, including road, track and off-road events.

Moving on foot with a repeated stride that normally includes a brief moment with neither foot on the ground.

A sport in which people climb natural rock or purpose-built walls using handholds and footholds.

A sport in which people move a boat through water using oars.

A sport or activity in which a boat moves mainly through the action of wind on its sails.

A water sport in which a person rides along a breaking wave on a board.

Moving over snow on long narrow boards attached to the feet, as a sport or leisure activity.

Moving across ice on boots fitted with narrow metal blades.

A sport in which competitors shoot arrows from a bow at a target.

A combat sport in which opponents score with controlled touches using specialised swords.

A sport in which players use clubs to hit a ball into a series of holes in as few strokes as possible.

A bat-and-ball team sport in which batters score runs while the opposing side bowls and fields to dismiss them.

A family of team sports in which players carry, pass or kick an oval ball to score, with tackling allowed under rules.

A bat-and-ball team sport in which batters try to reach and run around bases to score runs.

A bat-and-ball sport related to baseball, usually played with a larger ball on a smaller field and with underarm pitching.

A team sport played on ice in which skaters use sticks to send a puck into the opposing goal.

A team sport played on a field in which players use curved sticks to move a ball into the opposing goal.

A person who trains athletes or a team, plans their practice, teaches technique and tactics and often makes decisions during competition.

A fitness professional who designs exercise programmes for individual clients and supervises their sessions one to one.

A person who trains for and takes part in sport, especially at a competitive level; in British English it can also mean a track and field competitor.

A person who plays or competes in the same team as you, sharing training, matches and the team's results.

A player who starts a match on the bench and can come on to replace a teammate during the game.

A short practice exercise, repeated many times, that trains one particular skill or movement, such as passing, footwork or a set play.

The plans and methods a team or player uses during a game to beat an opponent, such as how to attack, defend or use space.

The strategy a coach or team prepares for a particular match, including how to play and how to deal with the opponent's strengths.

The player chosen to lead a team on the field, who often speaks to the referee, takes part in the coin toss and motivates teammates.

A short, encouraging speech given to make people feel more confident and motivated, especially before or during a game.

A person you regularly practise or work out with to improve skills, effort, safety, or consistency.

A coach who supports the head coach by helping with training, analysis, planning, and communication with players.

The group of players chosen to begin a match for a team before any substitutions are made.

A practice game or controlled match used in training so players can apply tactics and skills in game-like conditions.

A coach's explanation of tactics or strategy, traditionally using a board to show positions and planned plays.

The way a player moves and places the feet to stay balanced, change position and perform skills.

Observing players or opponents to assess their abilities, habits or suitability for a team.

A practice or match played with fewer players than the standard version of the sport.

The possible benefit a team or athlete gains from competing at a familiar home venue.

Fair and respectful behaviour toward opponents, officials and teammates in sport.

A period when athletes gather in one place for concentrated training and preparation.

The ability to keep up physical effort for a long time without tiring, important in sports like running, cycling, swimming and rowing.

The number of times your heart beats per minute (bpm), used to measure how hard the body is working during exercise and at rest.

The maximum amount of oxygen your body can take in and use during intense exercise, a key measure of aerobic fitness.

Describes exercise or energy production that uses oxygen, usually steady activity you can keep up for a long time, like jogging or cycling.

Describes short, very intense exercise in which the body produces energy mainly without oxygen, such as sprinting or heavy lifting.

The proportions of fat, muscle, bone and water that make up the body, often expressed as body fat percentage and lean mass.

Doing more training than the body can recover from over a long period, which can lead to falling performance, fatigue, poor sleep and injury.

To reduce training volume in the days or weeks before a major competition so that the athlete arrives rested and at peak performance.

The study of how the body moves and how forces act on muscles, joints, and technique during movement.

A body process that supplies energy for movement, with different systems contributing more during short, intense, or long efforts.

The exercise intensity at which lactate begins to build up faster in the blood than the body can clear it.

A range of heart rate values used to describe exercise intensity and guide training for endurance, recovery, or speed.

The number of heartbeats per minute when your body is calm, relaxed, and not exercising.

A rating of perceived exertion: a number chosen to describe how hard physical effort feels.

The amount of energy or oxygen a runner uses at a given steady speed.

The distance covered between one foot touching the ground and that same foot touching it again.

The amount of time a foot stays on the ground during a running step.

How quickly muscular force increases at the start of an effort.

An increase in the size of muscle fibres that makes a muscle larger.

The time from the appearance of a signal to the start of a response to it.

The ability to change direction or body position quickly and with control in response to what is happening.

A loss of some training adaptations after exercise is stopped or greatly reduced.

A nutrient found in foods such as meat, fish, eggs, dairy and pulses that the body uses to build and repair tissues, including muscle.

Keeping enough water in the body; in sport, drinking before, during and after exercise to replace the fluid lost through sweat.

A nutrient found in foods such as bread, rice, pasta, fruit and potatoes that is the body's main source of energy during intense exercise.

A product such as a powder, pill or drink taken in addition to normal food to add nutrients, for example protein, creatine or vitamins.

A natural compound stored in muscles that helps produce energy for short, intense efforts; also a popular sports supplement, usually creatine monohydrate.

A state in which you take in fewer calories from food and drink than your body uses, which leads to weight loss over time.

Short for macronutrients: protein, carbohydrate and fat, the nutrients the body needs in large amounts and that provide energy.

A supplement, usually a powder mixed with water, taken before training to increase energy and focus; it often contains caffeine.

Minerals such as sodium, potassium and magnesium that carry an electrical charge in body fluids and help muscles and nerves work; some are lost in sweat.

To gain body weight and muscle size on purpose, usually by eating more calories than you burn while doing heavy strength training.

A planned meal eaten before a game to provide energy, support comfort, and avoid feeling too full or too hungry.

A meal eaten after exercise to help restore energy, support recovery, and provide nutrients for the body.

The planning of when to eat meals or snacks in relation to training, recovery, sleep, or daily routine.

The amount of protein a person eats or drinks over a meal, day, or training period.

The practice of increasing carbohydrate intake before a long endurance event to raise stored energy in the muscles.

The dietary energy left for the body's other functions after the energy cost of exercise is accounted for.

A drink with a concentration of dissolved particles similar to that of body fluids.

A small serving of concentrated carbohydrate gel used as a convenient fuel during endurance exercise.

The practice of swishing a carbohydrate-containing liquid around the mouth and then spitting it out, studied in sport; the phrase can also name the liquid used.

The amount of sweat a person loses over a given period, often expressed in litres per hour.

To suddenly lose energy during a long endurance effort, often when available carbohydrate becomes low.