fosbury: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2Technical (Athletics/Sports)
Quick answer
What does “fosbury” mean?
Proper noun referring to Dick Fosbury, an American high jump athlete.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
Proper noun referring to Dick Fosbury, an American high jump athlete.
A technique in high jump where the athlete goes over the bar head first and backwards, arching the back.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. The term is international in athletics.
Connotations
Technical innovation, revolution in high jump technique.
Frequency
Equally low frequency in both dialects, confined to sports contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “fosbury” in a Sentence
[the] Fosbury flop [VERB][to] jump [using] the Fosbury [technique]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “fosbury” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- She is a Fosbury-style jumper.
- The Fosbury method is now universal.
American English
- His Fosbury technique needs work.
- It was a Fosbury-influenced career.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Academic
Used in sports history, biomechanics, or kinesiology papers discussing technique evolution.
Everyday
Virtually unused unless discussing athletics history.
Technical
Standard term in athletics coaching, commentary, and rulebooks for the dominant high jump style.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “fosbury”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “fosbury”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “fosbury”
- Using 'Fosbury' as a standalone verb (*He Fosburied over 2.3m* is non-standard). It is almost always 'do/pull/use the Fosbury flop'.
- Misspelling as *Fosberry, Fozbury*.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is not standard. The term is used as part of the noun phrase 'Fosbury flop' or as an adjective (Fosbury technique).
Richard 'Dick' Fosbury (1947-2023) was an American high jumper who won Olympic gold in 1968 using his innovative backwards, head-first jumping style, which was later named after him.
Yes, it has been the universally dominant technique in elite high jump since the late 1970s/early 1980s, completely replacing older techniques like the straddle.
Very rarely. It might be used metaphorically in business or tech journalism to describe a radical, backwards-looking innovation ('a Fosbury flop in software design'), but this is highly specialised and not common.
Proper noun referring to Dick Fosbury, an American high jump athlete.
Fosbury is usually technical (athletics/sports) in register.
Fosbury: in British English it is pronounced /ˈfɒzb(ə)ri/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈfɑːzberi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[to] pull a Fosbury (rare, informal)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Fosbury FLopped Over Backwards, Revolutionising Jumping.
Conceptual Metaphor
A PERSON'S NAME FOR A REVOLUTIONARY METHOD (EPONYM).
Practice
Quiz
What is the 'Fosbury flop' primarily associated with?