An acrobat is a performer who does amazing physical feats that require incredible strength, balance, and coordination. Acrobats might flip through the air, balance on tightropes, twist their bodies into surprising shapes, or catch partners mid-flight during trapeze acts.

You'll see acrobats in circuses, where they may swing high above the crowd, or in shows like Cirque du Soleil, where performers combine gymnastics, dance, and theatrical storytelling.

Becoming an acrobat takes years of daily practice. Many professional acrobats start training as young children, gradually building the muscle control and courage needed for their craft. They must trust their partners completely, since many acts depend on split-second timing between two or more people.

The word can also describe anyone who moves with unusual agility or grace. A squirrel leaping between tree branches might be called acrobatic, or you might say a soccer player made an acrobatic save by diving sideways to block a shot.