Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
Wilks score

Wilks score

8.4
A number that compares weightlifting results for people with different body weights
  • noun
  • /wɪlks skɔr/
  • Jargon
translation icon : puntuación Wilks
  • The competition ranked athletes based on their Wilks score rather than total weight lifted.

Examples

  • Can you explain how the Wilks score is calculated?

  • He calculated his Wilks score to see how he compared to lifters in other weight classes.

  • Her Wilks score improved after months of dedicated training.

  • The athlete achieved a high Wilks score at the competition.

  • The competition ranked athletes based on their Wilks score rather than total weight lifted.

  • He calculated his Wilks score to see how he compared to lifters in other weight classes.

  • Her Wilks score improved after months of dedicated training.

Surface Forms

Wilks score singular
Wilks scores plural

Morphology

Wilks + score

This is opaque because 'Wilks' is a proper name (a surname for a specific formula/method) and carries no semantic cue about weightlifting or comparative scoring, while 'score' only indicates a numerical value. A B1 learner who knows the words would not be able to infer that the term denotes a bodyweight-adjusted comparison metric in weightlifting without prior domain knowledge.

Etymology

Wilks score is named after Robert Wilks, who made a method to 'level' weightlifting results so lifters of different body weights can be compared. The idea is like a fair scale: the method changes a lifter's total so you can fairly 'compare' how well people did, which is why the Wilks score shows performance across body weights.