figure skating

noun

1. ice skating in which the skater traces intricate patterns on the ice.
2. a type of ice skating developed from this, emphasizing jumps, spins, and other movements that combine athletic skills and dance techniques.
3. a competitive sport in which the skater is required to execute school figures and to perform one or more original programs of difficult jumps, spins, etc., to a musical setting.

figure skating

noun

1. ice skating in which the skater traces outlines of selected patterns
2. the whole art of skating, as distinct from skating at speed

Derived Forms

• figure skater, noun

Other Words From

• figure skater noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of figure skating¹

First recorded in 1865–70

Example Sentences

Mabuse left Strictly in 2022 and became a judge on the celebrity figure skating competition Dancing On Ice in the same year.

From BBC

Absolutely affirmative for the nine U.S. athletes who received gold medals Wednesday at the Paris Olympics, 2½ years after their figure skating team event ended at the Beijing Olympics.

From Los Angeles Times

They’re ideal for practicing the flashy technical moves — slashing cutbacks, jaw-dropping aerials — that impress judges and help surfers rack up points in competitions that are scored much like gymnastics or figure skating.

From Los Angeles Times

Jennifer grew up being told to achieve, not just academically but with nonstop piano lessons, competitions and figure skating.

From Salon

The recent World Figure Skating Championships produced exciting results, including a 19-year-old American landing a quadruple axel and a 40-year-old pairs skater who became the oldest woman to win a world figure skating championship.

From New York Times