ski jump: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowTechnical/Sports
Quick answer
What does “ski jump” mean?
A steep, artificial ramp from which skiers launch themselves into the air, typically as part of a competitive sport where distance and style are judged.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A steep, artificial ramp from which skiers launch themselves into the air, typically as part of a competitive sport where distance and style are judged.
The sport or competitive event that involves using such a ramp; more broadly, the action of jumping from such a ramp.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning. The sport is equally known in both varieties.
Connotations
Primarily associated with winter sports, the Olympics, and Northern European athletes.
Frequency
Slightly more common in British media due to historical success of British broadcast coverage of winter sports, but the term itself has identical frequency patterns.
Grammar
How to Use “ski jump” in a Sentence
[to] do a ski jump[to] compete in the ski jumpthe ski jump at [location]a jump from the ski jumpVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “ski jump” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She hopes to ski jump at the next Winter Games.
- He learned to ski jump on a dry slope.
American English
- He wants to ski jump professionally.
- They travel to Colorado to ski jump every winter.
adjective
British English
- The ski-jump nose of the aircraft was distinctive.
- He holds a ski-jump world record.
American English
- The ski jump competition was intense.
- They reviewed ski jump techniques on video.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in contexts of sports equipment manufacturing, event sponsorship, or tourism marketing for winter resorts.
Academic
Found in sports science literature, studies of biomechanics or aerodynamics in winter sports.
Everyday
Used when discussing winter sports, the Olympics, or unusual local attractions.
Technical
Specific to sports engineering and event management; precise specifications of the ramp's angle, length, and landing hill are discussed.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “ski jump”
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “ski jump”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “ski jump”
- Using 'ski jumping' (the activity) interchangeably with 'ski jump' (the ramp). Incorrect: *'He went down the ski jumping.' Correct: 'He went down the ski jump.'
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It is a compound noun, written as two separate words without a hyphen in modern standard English, though hyphenation ('ski-jump') may be seen in older texts or in attributive adjective use (e.g., 'ski-jump nose').
Yes, it can be used as a verb meaning 'to perform a jump from a ski jump.' Example: 'She will ski jump in the finals.' However, 'to go ski jumping' is a more common phrasing for the activity.
They are largely synonymous. 'Ski jumping hill' is the more formal, technical term used in official sports documentation and includes the entire structure (in-run, take-off, landing slope, and out-run). 'Ski jump' is the common term, often referring specifically to the take-off ramp.
Yes, they are classified by their 'hill size' (the point where the landing slope begins to flatten). Common sizes include normal hills (HS~85m), large hills (HS~120m), and ski flying hills (HS~185m+), which allow for the longest jumps.
A steep, artificial ramp from which skiers launch themselves into the air, typically as part of a competitive sport where distance and style are judged.
Ski jump is usually technical/sports in register.
Ski jump: in British English it is pronounced /ˈskiː dʒʌmp/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈski ˌdʒʌmp/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine the word 'SKI' written on the ramp and a person doing a 'JUMP' off it. The two actions combine to name the structure.
Conceptual Metaphor
A LAUNCHING PAD FOR FLIGHT (conceptualizing the ramp as a platform for achieving airborne motion).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the term 'ski jump' LEAST likely to be used?