/ penˈtæθlən; NAmE / noun
a sporting event in which people compete in five different sports (running, riding, swimming, shooting and fencing )
—compare biathlon , decathlon , heptathlon , tetrathlon , triathlon
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WORD ORIGIN
early 17th cent. (denoting the original five events of leaping, running, discus-throwing, spear-throwing, and wrestling): from Greek , from pente five + athlon contest.