letterman
/'letəmæn/
Học thuậtThân thiện
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
- an athlete who has earned a letter in a school sport