athletics Syllabification: (ath·let·ics)Pronunciation: /aTHˈletiks/Translate athletics | into French | into German | into Italian | into Spanish Definition of athletics noun [usually treated as singular] North American physical sports and games of any kind. chiefly British the sport of competing in track and field events, including running races and various competitions in jumping and throwing: [as modifier]:athletics championshipsathletics in other Oxford dictionaries Definition of athletics in the British & World English dictionary