olympics

USAGE SUMMARY

The word "olympics" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to refer to the Olympic Games, a major international sporting event held every four years. For example: "The 2020 Tokyo Olympics were postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Before many effects of today's emissions are felt, it will be time for the Summer Olympics of 2048.

The Economist

"Two Olympic victories, the hockey and Crimea," said Trifonova, referring to the Russian team's victories in the Winter Olympics and paralympics held in Sochi earlier this year, as well as in the recent ice hockey world championships, and the annexation by Moscow of the Crimea peninsula.

The Guardian

The protest echoes the calls for athletes to express sympathy for gay and lesbian Russians during the Sochi Olympics.

The Guardian

This victory, secured in the sweltering Scottish heat, means Brownlee has titles at the Commonwealth Games, the Olympics, the Europeans and the world championships – a full house of successes that surpasses all expectations he ever had when starting out in the sport.

The Guardian - Sport

A recent poll of parents by Chance to Shine, an organisation that promotes the return of cricket to schools, found that, while over half of children had been doing more sport in some way since the Olympics, the level of activity had fallen off sharply in schools.

The Guardian

In 2004, Lord Coe, chairman of the Olympic bidding committee, Ken Livingstone, London's then mayor, and John Biggs, then deputy chair of the London Development Agency, signed an "Ethical Olympics Pledge" in return for local support, giving guarantees on housing, jobs and training, and the promise that 30% of construction jobs would be set aside for local people.

The Guardian - Opinion

The organisers of London 2012 frequently assert that this summer's Olympics will leave a legacy for our times to rival the Great Exhibition of 1851 or the Festival of Britain 100 years later.

The Guardian - Opinion

During the 2012 London Olympics, for example, Blazer is even said to have secretly recorded meetings with several Fifa colleagues using a keyfob with a hidden microphone.

The Guardian - Sport

The acerbic lyrics denounce President Vladimir Putin, the Olympics and a number of political trials going on in Russia, and was accompanied by footage of the women in their trademark balaclavas in Sochi.

The Guardian - Music

The governor of the Krasnodar region apologised for the actions of the Cossacks, who are being used as informal security at the Olympics, but the presence of many plainclothes security officers suggested their actions were sanctioned.

The Guardian - Music

"There aren't many Games that have succeeded in getting a real boost for sports participation after a successful Olympics.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "Olympic Games" for formal contexts, and "Olympics" for more casual writing.

Common error

Avoid capitalizing "olympics" when used as a general adjective (e.g., "Olympic-level athletes"). However, "Olympics" is a proper noun and should be capitalized when referring to the event itself.

Linguistic Context

The term "olympics" primarily functions as a proper noun, denoting a specific international sporting event. It can also be used attributively, as in "olympics athletes". Ludwig AI confirms its correct usage in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Less common in

Science

0%

Formal & Business

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The term "olympics" is a proper noun referring to the international sporting event known as the Olympic Games. Ludwig AI validates its use and grammatical correctness across many contexts. Predominantly found in news and media sources, "olympics" serves to identify and discuss aspects of the Games. While “Olympic Games” is more formal, “olympics” is widely accepted and frequently used. It's crucial to maintain correct capitalization to avoid common errors and to specify the year and location for clarity. Related phrases like "summer games" or "winter games" offer alternative phrasing depending on the specific context.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

Olympic Games

More formal and complete name for the event.

Summer Games

Refers specifically to the summer edition of the Olympic Games.

Winter Games

Refers specifically to the winter edition of the Olympic Games.

the Games

Shorthand for referring to the Olympics, especially when the context is clear.

Olympic competition

Focuses on the competitive aspect of the Olympics.

Olympic tournament

Highlights the tournament structure of many Olympic events.

Olympic event

A single contest within the Olympic Games.

international games

General term for international sporting competitions, including the Olympics.

quadrennial games

Emphasizes the four-year cycle of the Olympics.

athletic contests

Broader term encompassing various sports competitions, including those in the Olympics.

FAQs

How is "olympics" typically used in a sentence?

The word "olympics" functions as a proper noun referring to the Olympic Games. For example: "The 2024 Paris Olympics were a great success."

What's the difference between "olympics" and "Olympic Games"?

"Olympics" is a shortened, more casual version of "Olympic Games". Both refer to the same international sporting event, but "Olympic Games" is often used in more formal contexts.

Are there different types of "olympics"?

Yes, there are two main types: the Summer Olympics and the Winter Olympics, each featuring different sports appropriate for the season. Also there are Paralympic Games, for athletes with disabilities.

Can I use a different word instead of "olympics"?

You can use alternative phrases such as "Olympic Games" or "international games" depending on the context. For instance, you might say "the last international games were held in Paris" instead of "the last Olympics were held in Paris".