Definition

Noun: - An athlete, typically at a high school or college, who has earned a varsity letter (a cloth or felt letter, often the initial of the school's name) as an award for participation and achievement in a school sport. The term implies a level of skill and commitment recognized by the institution.

Usage

The word "letterman" is used to denote an athlete's official recognition for their performance on a varsity sports team. - He became a letterman in both football and track during his senior year. - Only a few players on the team will earn the status of letterman this season.

Advanced Usage

• "Earn a letter": This is the action that results in becoming a letterman. It means to meet the specific performance or participation criteria set by a school's athletic department to be awarded a varsity letter.
  • She worked hard all season to earn her letter in swimming.
• The concept is often associated with a "letterman jacket" (also called a varsity jacket), a garment traditionally worn by lettermen to display their earned letters and other awards.

Variants and Related Words

• Letter (n): In this context, the award itself—the cloth insignia representing the school.
• Varsity (adj/n): Referring to the principal team representing a school in a sport. A "letterman" is a member of a varsity team.
• Letterwinner (n): A synonym for "letterman," used to emphasize the act of winning or earning the letter.

Synonyms

• Varsity athlete
• Letterwinner
• Awarded athlete (in the context of school sports)

Antonyms

• Junior varsity (JV) player
• Benchwarmer (informal, implying an athlete who rarely plays)
• Non-letterwinner

Noun

1. an athlete who has earned a letter in a school sport