noun · 4 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
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Received-Pronunciation:/ˌkæ.lɪsˈθɛ.nɪks/
Southern-England:Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
CMU ARPABET:K AE2 L AH0 S TH EH1 N IH0 K S
Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
1
noun
Meaning 1
Physical exercises with the participation of a multitude of muscles and often minimal equipment (thus, usually bodyweight exercises); strength training aspects and cardio aspects are both involved, and stamina is often a focus.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: in-plural, plural, singular
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
2
noun
Meaning 2
A system of such exercises.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: plural, singular
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
3
noun
Meaning 3
light exercises designed to promote general fitness
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
several different calisthenics were illustrated in the video
calisthenics is recommended for general good health
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: callisthenics
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: practice, pattern
History
Etymology
Etymology tree Ancient Greek κάλλος (kállos) Ancient Greek σθένος (sthénos) Proto-Indo-European *-ikos Proto-Italic *-ikos Latin -icuslbor. Old French -iquebor. Middle English -ik English -ic Old English -as Middle English -es English -s English -ics English calisthenics From Ancient Greek κάλλος (kállos, “beauty”) + σθένος (sthénos, “strength”) + English -ics.
Across languages
Translations
39 source translations are retained for this English entry.
Azerbaijani:
kalistenika
— type of exercise
Bulgarian:
калисте́ника
(kalisténika)
— type of exercise
Bulgarian:
физзаря́дка
(fizzarjádka)
— type of exercise
Catalan:
cal·listènia
— type of exercise
Chinese Mandarin:
柔軟體操 /柔软体操
(róuruǎn tǐcāo)
— type of exercise
Chinese Mandarin:
健美操
(jiànměicāo)
— type of exercise
Czech:
kalistenika
— type of exercise
Czech:
cvičení s vlastní vahou
— type of exercise
Finnish:
voimistelu
— type of exercise
Finnish:
kehonpainoharjoittelu
— type of exercise
French:
callisthénie
— type of exercise
German:
Calisthenics
— type of exercise
German:
Eigengewichtsübungen
— type of exercise
German:
Körpergewichtsübungen
— type of exercise
German:
Spannungsübungen
— type of exercise
Greek:
καλλισθενική γυμναστική
(kallisthenikí gymnastikí)
— type of exercise
Hungarian:
testsúlygyakorlat
— type of exercise
Hungarian:
tornagyakorlat
— type of exercise
Icelandic:
leikfimiæfingar
— type of exercise
Italian:
callistenia
— type of exercise
Italian:
calisthenics
— type of exercise
Japanese:
美容体操
(biyō taisō)
— type of exercise
Latvian:
vingrošana
— type of exercise
Occitan:
callisténia
— type of exercise
Polish:
kalistenika
— type of exercise
Portuguese:
calistenia
— type of exercise
Russian:
заря́дка
(zarjádka)
— type of exercise
Russian:
гимна́стика
(gimnástika)
— type of exercise
Russian:
ворка́ут
(vorkáut)
— type of exercise
Russian:
калисте́ника
(kalisténika)
— type of exercise
Sicilian:
callistinìa
— type of exercise
Sicilian:
caḍḍistinìa
— type of exercise
Sicilian:
calisthenics
— type of exercise
Spanish:
calistenia
— type of exercise
Bulgarian:
калисте́ника
(kalisténika)
— a system of such exercises
Bulgarian:
физзаря́дка
(fizzarjádka)
— a system of such exercises
Hungarian:
erősítő torna
— a system of such exercises
Hungarian:
kalisztenika
— a system of such exercises
