What does breaststroke mean?
Breaststroke is one of the four principal swimming strokes, alongside freestyle, backstroke, and butterfly. Performed face-down in the water, it involves sweeping both arms outward and then back together beneath the surface while the legs execute a simultaneous frog-like kick, with the swimmer pausing briefly in a streamlined glide between strokes. It is generally the slowest of the competitive strokes but is prized for its efficiency over long distances, its visibility above water, and its usefulness for beginners and lifesavers alike. In competition, breaststroke features in individual events such as the 50-, 100-, and 200-metre races, in individual medley combinations, and in medley relays, where it forms the second leg. The word also works as a verb ('she breaststroked across the lake'), though the noun is far more common. Strict rules govern the stroke's execution in racing, making it technically demanding at an elite level.
A swimming stroke performed prone, with the arms sweeping out and back together underwater and the legs executing a frog-like kick.
"Her breaststroke was the strongest leg of her medley."
Commonly used attributively in phrases like 'breaststroke event'.
To swim using the breaststroke.
"They breaststroked steadily toward the shore."
Less common than the noun form but fully standard.
Rarely used in the plural except when referring to multiple distinct instances or styles of the stroke.
"The archive contains film clips of several historic breaststrokes."
Breaststroke is the oldest of the four competitive swimming strokes — its frog-like kick appears in drawings dating back thousands of years.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of breaststroke
Breaststroke is a straightforward English compound of 'breast' and 'stroke', describing a stroke swum on or near the chest. The compound has been in use since at least the seventeenth century, reflecting the stroke's long history as one of humanity's most ancient swimming techniques. It shares its components with related aquatic terms such as backstroke and sidestroke, all formed by combining a body position or orientation with 'stroke'.
Related word forms
How breaststroke is actually used
Neutral register; used chiefly in swimming, sporting, and instructional contexts. As a verb it is less common than the noun but well attested. The word functions attributively in compounds such as 'breaststroke event' or 'breaststroke specialist'.
Easily confused with breaststroke
The butterfly uses a dolphin kick with both arms moving forward together over the water, whereas the breaststroke keeps the arms underwater in a sweeping motion paired with a frog kick.