Synonyms/Hypernyms (Ordered by Estimated Frequency) of noun athletics

3 senses of athletics

Sense 1
sport, athletics -- (an active diversion requiring physical exertion and competition)
       => diversion, recreation -- (an activity that diverts or amuses or stimulates; "scuba diving is provided as a diversion for tourists"; "for recreation he wrote poetry and solved crossword puzzles"; "drug abuse is often regarded as a form of recreation")

Sense 2
athletic contest, athletic competition, athletics -- (a contest between athletes)
       => contest, competition -- (an occasion on which a winner is selected from among two or more contestants)

Sense 3
athletics -- (participation in sports events as an extracurricular activity)
       => extracurricular activity -- (educational activities not falling within the scope of the regular curriculum)