biathlon

noun

bi·​ath·​lon bī-ˈath-lən How to pronounce biathlon (audio)
-ˌlän
Synonyms of biathlonnext
: a composite athletic contest consisting of cross-country skiing and rifle sharpshooting

Did you know?

A winter sports event, the biathlon combines cross-country skiing with rifle sharpshooting. It originated in Scandinavian hunting. It was first included in the Winter Olympics program in 1960. Competitors cover a 20-km (12.5-mile) course, carrying a rifle and ammunition. They stop at four points to fire five shots at small targets. Relay and 10-km events were added in 1968 and 1980 respectively.

Examples of biathlon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Zaino will also compete in the biathlon (skiing and shooting). — Lori Riley, Hartford Courant, 3 Mar. 2026 In the space of a few minutes, Lægreid had managed to make not only the biathlon but the entirety of the Olympics about himself. — Vinson Cunningham, New Yorker, 21 Feb. 2026 Norway, while leading in gold and overall medals, is highly concentrated in just two sports, biathlon and cross-country skiing, which account for 16 of 22 medals. — Brian Mann, NPR, 16 Feb. 2026 Nazgul’s owner, Enrico, was traveling to the biathlon event near the Austria/Italy border, Bild reported. — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 19 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for biathlon

Word History

Etymology

bi- entry 1 + -athlon (as in decathlon)

First Known Use

1956, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of biathlon was in 1956

Rhymes for biathlon

See All Rhymes for biathlon

Browse Nearby Words

biathlete
biathlon
biaural
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Biathlon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/biathlon. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for biathlon

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about biathlon

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