'athletehood' originates from modern English, formed by combining the noun 'athlete' and the suffix '-hood' (from Old English 'hād'), where 'athlete' ultimately derives from Greek 'athlētēs' meaning 'competitor' and '-hood' meant 'state' or 'condition'.

'athlete' changed from Greek 'athlētēs' to Latin 'athleta' and entered Middle English as 'athlete'; the suffix '-hood' evolved from Old English 'hād' (later Middle English '-hod') to modern '-hood'; in modern English these elements were combined to create 'athletehood'.

Initially the components meant 'competitor' (from 'athlete') and 'state/condition' (from '-hood'); over time they combined to form the modern sense 'the state or condition of being an athlete'.