Pentathlon
/pɛnˈθæl.θɒn/noun
An athletic contest made up of five different events.
Did you know?The word is built from Greek penta- “five” + athlon “contest/prize,” and that same athlon element also lives in decathlon and triathlon, all descending from the ancient world of prize-fighting and sacred games.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient Greek
Greek
πένταθλον (pénthlon)
“a contest of five events”
Ancient Greek
Greek
πέντε (pénte) + ἆθλον (âthlon)
“five + prize, contest, or feat of contest”
Late Latin
Latin
pentathlon
“a five-part athletic contest”
19th Century
English
pentathlon
“a five-event athletic competition”
Modern English
English
pentathlon
“an athletic contest made up of five different events”