FITNESS

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does fitness mean? 

• FITNESS (noun)
  The noun FITNESS has 3 senses:

1. the quality of being suitable

2. good physical condition; being in shape or in condition

3. the quality of being qualified

  Familiarity information: FITNESS used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FITNESS (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The quality of being suitable

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

fitness; fittingness

Context example:

they had to prove their fitness for the position

Hypernyms ("fitness" is a kind of...):

suitability; suitableness (the quality of having the properties that are right for a specific purpose)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "fitness"):

making; qualification (an attribute that must be met or complied with and that fits a person for something)

habitability; habitableness (suitability for living in or on)

Antonym:

unfitness (the quality of not being suitable)

Derivation:

fit (meeting adequate standards for a purpose)

fit ((usually followed by 'to' or 'for') on the point of or strongly disposed)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Good physical condition; being in shape or in condition

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

fitness; physical fitness

Hypernyms ("fitness" is a kind of...):

condition; shape (the state of (good) health (especially in the phrases 'in condition' or 'in shape' or 'out of condition' or 'out of shape'))

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "fitness"):

fettle (a state of fitness and good health)

Antonym:

unfitness (poor physical condition; being out of shape or out of condition (as from a life of ease and luxury))

Sense 3

Meaning:

The quality of being qualified

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("fitness" is a kind of...):

competence; competency (the quality of being adequately or well qualified physically and intellectually)

Derivation:

fit (physically and mentally sound or healthy)

 Context examples 

A system of free movements designed to develop muscular tone and promote physical fitness.

(Calisthenics, NCI Thesaurus)

This month will also be special for initiating a health and fitness program.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

It helps improve a person’s physical fitness.

(Aerobic exercise, NCI Dictionary)

"We found that the higher the older person's aerobic fitness level was, the lower their odds of experiencing a tip-of-the-tongue moment," Segaert said.

(Exercise May Help Seniors with Word, Memory Problems, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

It’s probably not a good idea to decide what to eat based on how many calories your wearable fitness tracker says you’ve burned, according to a new study.

(Fitness Trackers Bad at Measuring Calories Burned, Study Says, VOA)

Activity that requires physical or mental exertion, especially when performed to develop or maintain fitness.

(Exercise, NCI Thesaurus)

The existence of anything is sufficient vindication of its fitness to exist—to exist, mark you, as the average person unconsciously believes, not merely in present conditions, but in all conditions.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Policies, practices and research that ensure the fitness of food for human consumption.

(Food Safety, NCI Thesaurus)

I learned from your papers that you were my father, my creator; and to whom could I apply with more fitness than to him who had given me life?

(Frankenstein, by Mary Wollstonecraft Shelley)

Esther had given her a rosary of black beads with a silver cross, but Amy hung it up and did not use it, feeling doubtful as to its fitness for Protestant prayers.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)