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ironman

ironman

1 7.5
A person with great strength and endurance who finishes long races of swimming, cycling and running
  • noun
  • /ˈaɪərnˌmæn/
translation icon : ironman
  • The Lucas brothers have put up a tremendous effort but now in front is Grant Kenny, the national ironman champion.
  • ironman triathlon

You also compete as an individual, as an elite Ironman triathlete.

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Examples

  • Well, I quit a half ironman.

    Blog text (24)
  • Here it is, the ironman race.

  • Mike, it's set down for the ironman race.

  • Less than a month later, I did my first full ironman.

  • You also compete as an individual, as an elite Ironman triathlete.

  • Sarah Reinertsen is an amputee and an Ironman athlete.

    Blog text (20)
  • An ironman is a 2.4-mile swim followed by 112-mile bike, and then running a marathon, 26.2 miles after that.

  • Participation in extreme endurance events such as marathons and Ironman-length triathlons has the potential to place endurance athletes under intense physical and psychological stress.

    Academic text (2004)
  • Bernhardt recognizes that there are many cases of novice triathletes without deep backgrounds in endurance sports who have completed an Ironman in their first year in the sport, and even as their very first multisport event.

    Blog text (27)
  • Completing an ironman triathlon requires immense dedication and training.

Synonyms

athlete
vsironman
913 2.0

A person who trains for and competes in sports

specifies exceptional endurance and long triathlon completion, not general sporting skill
triathlete
vsironman
8 3.9

A person who competes in a race with swimming, cycling and running

focuses on exceptional endurance and finishing long-distance events rather than just competing
iron man
vsironman
1 5.2

A man with a very strong body who can keep working or moving for a long time

includes any gender and often refers to completing a long triathlon event

Antonyms

weakling
  • Offensive
24 4.4

A person who has little body strength and gets tired easily

couch potato
  • Informal
11 4.3

A person who sits or lies down a lot, usually watching television

How Enduring

ironman
1 7.5
triathlete
8 3.9
athlete
913 2.0
exerciser
3 2.7

Surface Forms

ironman singular
ironmen plural

Morphology

ironman = iron + man (semi-transparent) = iron + man

The components 'iron' + 'man' transparently suggest a strong person, but the specific use for the branded long-distance triathlon ('Ironman') or the event finisher is a specialized/proper-noun sense not fully deducible by learners.

Etymology

Ironman comes from putting iron (the metal, 'strong') and man ('person') together. It suggests a person with great strength or endurance, which is why the name is used for athletes who finish very long triathlon races.