biathlon: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Sports Journalism
Quick answer
What does “biathlon” mean?
An athletic competition that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
An athletic competition that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting.
Any sports event combining two distinct disciplines (by analogy); a winter Olympic sport testing endurance and precision.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Spelling identical; usage identical.
Connotations
Primarily associated with Winter Olympics coverage in both varieties.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in UK due to greater historical involvement in winter sports broadcasting.
Grammar
How to Use “biathlon” in a Sentence
[to] compete in the biathlon[to] win a biathlon[the] biathlon of [year]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “biathlon” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She hopes to biathlon at the highest level.
- He biathlons professionally.
American English
- He aims to biathlon in the Olympics.
- She biathlons for the US team.
adjective
British English
- The biathlon circuit is demanding.
- A biathlon rifle is specially designed.
American English
- Biathlon training is intense.
- The biathlon venue was prepared.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rarely used. Could metaphorically describe a project requiring two disparate skill sets.
Academic
Used in sports science and history of Olympic disciplines.
Everyday
Primarily in discussions of Winter Olympics or major sporting events.
Technical
Precise term in sports regulations, referring to IBU-governed events.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “biathlon”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “biathlon”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “biathlon”
- Mispronouncing /-θl-/ as /-θəl-/
- Confusing with 'triathlon'
- Using as a general term for any two-part event.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is exclusively a Winter Olympic sport.
Biathlon combines two disciplines (skiing and shooting), while triathlon combines three (swimming, cycling, running).
Yes, but this usage is informal and primarily found in sports journalism (e.g., 'She biathlons professionally').
Yes, analogous sports exist, such as 'summer biathlon' (running and shooting), but the term 'biathlon' alone invariably refers to the winter sport.
An athletic competition that combines cross-country skiing and rifle shooting.
Biathlon is usually formal, sports journalism in register.
Biathlon: in British English it is pronounced /baɪˈæθlən/, and in American English it is pronounced /baɪˈæθlɑːn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “A biathlon of the mind (rare: a task requiring two different skills)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
BI (two) + ATHLON (contest) = a contest with TWO parts: skiing AND shooting.
Conceptual Metaphor
A TEST OF DUAL MASTERY (endurance and precision).
Practice
Quiz
What two disciplines constitute the modern Olympic biathlon?