What does athleisure mean?
Athleisure refers to casual clothing designed to function both as workout apparel and as everyday wear, and by extension to the fashion trend of wearing such items outside the gym. Typical athleisure pieces include leggings, joggers, sports bras, hoodies, and technical fabrics adapted for street style. The term blends "athletic" and "leisure" and gained wide currency in the mid-2010s as consumers increasingly prioritized comfort and versatility in their wardrobes. Athleisure is generally used as an uncountable noun describing a category of clothing — one might speak of "the athleisure market" or "an athleisure brand" rather than counting individual "athleisures." It appears most often in retail, marketing, and fashion contexts, with a tone that leans informal but widely understood. The word reflects a broader cultural shift in which boundaries between sportswear, workwear, and leisurewear have blurred considerably.
nounCasual clothing designed to be worn both for athletic activity and in everyday, non-athletic settings; the style or trend of wearing such garments as fashion.
- Clothing that is suitable for both athletic exercise and casual everyday wear.
- The fashion trend of incorporating such sporty, comfortable garments into daily non-athletic outfits.
"She wore her athleisure to brunch straight from the yoga studio."
"The rise of athleisure has made it perfectly normal to see people running errands in leggings and trainers."
"Major fashion houses have launched athleisure lines to compete with specialist activewear brands."
Athleisure is normally used as an uncountable mass noun referring to a category of clothing; a plural form is not standard.
"The store devotes an entire floor to athleisure."
"Athleisure" was added to Merriam-Webster only in 2016 — yet it reshaped an entire industry and turned leggings into acceptable office-adjacent attire.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of athleisure
The word athleisure is a blend (portmanteau) of "athletic" and "leisure," formed in English during the late twentieth century. Both elements are well-established English words: "athletic" derives ultimately from Greek "athlon" (contest), while "leisure" comes through Old French from Latin "licere" (to be permitted). Although the concept existed informally earlier, the term entered mainstream usage in the 2010s as the trend it names grew commercially significant, and it was added to major dictionaries such as Merriam-Webster in 2016.
How athleisure is actually used
Informal to semi-formal register; common in retail, marketing, and fashion journalism. Often treated as an uncountable noun describing a category of clothing rather than individual items. The word carries connotations of comfort and modern lifestyle rather than high performance sport.
Easily confused with athleisure
Activewear refers specifically to garments intended for exercise and sport, whereas athleisure emphasizes clothing that blurs the line between workout gear and everyday fashion.