athletics

noun

1. (British, especially, plural, plural-only)A group of sporting activities including track and field, road running, cross country and racewalking.
2. (US, especially, plural, plural-only)Physical activities such as sports and games requiring stamina, fitness and skill.

   “The University of Phoenix, a for-profit educational institution, has turned the traditional relationship between athletics and higher education on its head, reducing it to its commercially exploitive essence.”

3. (form-of, plural)plural of athletic

name

1. The team The Oakland Athletics, previously Kansas City Athletics and Philadelphia Athletics.
2. (US)Nickname for many athletic teams whose full name includes "Athletics".