contortionist

noun

con·​tor·​tion·​ist kən-ˈtȯr-sh(ə-)nist How to pronounce contortionist (audio)
: one who contorts
specifically : an acrobat able to twist the body into unusual postures
contortionistic adjective

Examples of contortionist in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Amy Goh, a contortionist and author of the Bendy Diaries blog, is eager to dispel the myth that her ability can be explained away as an inborn quality. Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 20 Feb. 2024 That buzzer went to Sofie Dossi, a contortionist from season 11 of AGT and season 1 of AGT: The Champions. Joelle Goldstein, Peoplemag, 16 Jan. 2024 Guests were entertained by two Cirque du Soleil artists — a contortionist and a belly dancer — as well as by magicians from the Magic Castle, a private club in Los Angeles owned by the Academy of Magical Arts. Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 12 Dec. 2023 The contortionist performed inside the martini glass in one of the wedding's biggest highlights. Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 12 Dec. 2023 Howlin’ at the Moon, a new two-day Halloween festival for adults only, will be held from 5 to 10 p.m. Oct. 22-23 at Naper Settlement, 523 S. Webster St. Entertainment scheduled includes fire dancers, a liquid light show, a contortionist, an illusionist, and a reptile and bug show. Michelle Mullins, chicagotribune.com, 31 Aug. 2021 All accompany the contortionist, trapeze and tightrope circus classics that spectators young and old have come to ooh and aah at. Rachel Sherman, New York Times, 22 Nov. 2023 And the bubbly contortionist, 42, might have set a trend with those one-of-a-kind movements. Stephanie Sengwe, Peoplemag, 30 Oct. 2023 At the end of the performance, the dance troupe removed their blindfolds, revealing the contortionists’ unthreatening appearance. USA TODAY, 19 July 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'contortionist.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1844, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of contortionist was in 1844

Dictionary Entries Near contortionist

Cite this Entry

“Contortionist.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contortionist. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

contortionist

noun
con·​tor·​tion·​ist kən-ˈtȯr-sh(ə-)nəst How to pronounce contortionist (audio)
: an acrobat able to twist the body into unusual positions

More from Merriam-Webster on contortionist

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