mathlete
English edit
Etymology edit
Blend of mathematics + athlete. The term is a registered trademark of the MathCounts organization. The term entered pop culture from the movies American Pie (1999) and Mean Girls (2004), as well as being featured in the short-lived cult TV series Freaks and Geeks.
Mathletes was the name of a US national organization that sponsored high school mathematics competitions ("Mathletes") and junior high school competitions ("Junior Mathletes") in the 1970s. The students comprising a single school's Mathletes team was known as its "Math Team". The team's news and results could be covered either under Sports (because it was a team competition) or Activities.
Pronunciation edit
Noun edit
mathlete (plural mathletes)
- (US) A member of the math team of a primary school or secondary school.
- 2004, Tina Fey, Mean Girls, spoken by Kevin G (Rajiv Surendra):
- Yo Yo Yo! All you sucka MCs ain't got nothin' on me! From my grades, to my lines you can't touch Kevin G! I'm a mathlete, so nerd is inferred, but forget what you heard […]