Gymnastics vs. Cheerleading — What's the Difference?

Gymnastics is a sport that includes physical exercises requiring balance, strength, flexibility, agility, coordination, and endurance. The movements involved in gymnastics contribute to the development of the arms, legs, shoulders, back, chest, and abdominal muscle groups.

Cheerleading is an activity in which the participants (called cheerleaders) cheer for their team as a form of encouragement. It can range from chanting slogans to intense physical activity.

(used with a pl. verb) Physical exercises designed to develop and display strength, balance, and agility, especially those performed on or with specialized apparatus.

One who leads the cheering of spectators, as at a sports contest.

(used with a sing. verb) The art or practice of such exercises.

A member of a group that performs coordinated routines typically combining gymnastic and dance maneuvers, originally including rhythmic chants to encourage spectators to cheer at an athletic event, but often in competition with similar groups.

Complex intellectual or artistic exercises

One who expresses praise for or promotes something enthusiastically.

(Informal) Feats of physical agility

To lead organized cheering, as at sports events.

A sport involving the performance of sequences of movements requiring physical strength, flexibility, and kinesthetic awareness.

To express or promote automatic or servile praise

Complex intellectual or artistic exercises or feats of physical agility.

A physical activity in which cheerleaders organize elements of dance, gymnastics, and tumbling for judgment or to cheer on a team.

Athletic or disciplinary exercises; the art of performing gymnastic exercises.

(figurative) Automatic or servile praise.

Disciplinary exercises for the intellect or character.

Present participle of cheerlead

Feats demonstrating a quick mental agility; as, mental gymnastics, verbal gymnastics.

A sport that involves exercises intended to display strength and balance and agility