breaststroke: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B1neutral, technical (sports)
Quick answer
What does “breaststroke” mean?
A swimming style where the swimmer lies face down in the water, moving the arms in a simultaneous circular motion from the chest and performing a frog kick with the legs.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A swimming style where the swimmer lies face down in the water, moving the arms in a simultaneous circular motion from the chest and performing a frog kick with the legs.
In extended use, the term can metaphorically refer to a slow, steady, and laborious method of progress, often contrasted with faster, more efficient styles. It is also the name of the competitive event in swimming using this stroke.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or semantic differences. Pronunciation differs slightly (see IPA). In competitive contexts, the rules and technical execution are globally standardized.
Connotations
Identical in both dialects. Connotes a fundamental, often slower, swimming style taught to beginners.
Frequency
Equally common in both dialects due to the universality of the sport.
Grammar
How to Use “breaststroke” in a Sentence
[Subject] swims breaststroke.He is good at breaststroke.She won the gold medal in the 100m breaststroke.They teach breaststroke first.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “breaststroke” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She decided to breaststroke the last length to save energy.
- He was breaststroking leisurely across the pool.
American English
- I'll just breaststroke over to the deep end.
- She breaststroked the whole way.
adverb
British English
- He swam breaststroke for the entire session.
- She moved breaststroke, carefully watching her form.
American English
- She went breaststroke the whole race.
- He finished the warm-up breaststroke.
adjective
British English
- He is the new breaststroke champion.
- She has a powerful breaststroke kick.
American English
- The breaststroke event is up next.
- He needs to work on his breaststroke turn.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Possibly metaphorical: 'The company is doing the business equivalent of the breaststroke—steady but not setting any speed records.'
Academic
Used in sports science, kinesiology, and coaching literature to describe techniques, biomechanics, and training.
Everyday
Common in conversations about swimming, learning to swim, fitness, and watching sports.
Technical
Precise term in competitive swimming, with specific rules governing the stroke cycle, turns, and finishes defined by FINA.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “breaststroke”
Neutral
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “breaststroke”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “breaststroke”
- Misspelling as 'breaststoke' or 'breast stroke' (as two words is less common in modern usage).
- Incorrect verb form: 'I breaststroked' is informal; 'I swam breaststroke' is standard.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
In modern English, it is almost universally written as one compound word: 'breaststroke'. The two-word form 'breast stroke' is considered archaic or less standard.
The name originates from the position of the swimmer's chest (breast) and the sweeping arm motion (stroke) performed symmetrically in front of the chest.
Yes, it is often taught early because the head can be kept above water easily, and the symmetrical movements are relatively intuitive. However, mastering a fast, legal competitive breaststroke is technically very challenging.
Informally, yes (e.g., 'He breaststroked across the pool'). In formal and sporting contexts, it is more common to use 'swim breaststroke' (e.g., 'She swam breaststroke in the relay').
A swimming style where the swimmer lies face down in the water, moving the arms in a simultaneous circular motion from the chest and performing a frog kick with the legs.
Breaststroke is usually neutral, technical (sports) in register.
Breaststroke: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbrɛststrəʊk/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbrɛststroʊk/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a swimmer's chest (BREAST) making a sweeping STROKE through the water.
Conceptual Metaphor
A METHOD IS A SWIMMING STROKE (e.g., 'a breaststroke approach to problem-solving' implies a methodical, step-by-step, but not necessarily fast, method).
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a defining feature of the breaststroke?