obstacle course

Meanings

nounobstacle course (plural obstacle courses)

A course with a series of physical challenges (running, climbing, swimming, etc.) to be performed sequentially.
Synonyms: assault course, obstacle race, obby
figurativelyA painful and strenuous experience; hassle.
A Cuban who wants to marry a foreigner must traverse a bureaucratic obstacle course designed to discourage such liaisons.
1983 April 16, John Kyper, “Cuba: A Little Sex, No Drugs, and Lotsa Rock 'n Roll”, in Gay Community News, page 9

nounA course with a series of physical challenges (running, climbing, swimming, etc.) to be performed sequentially.

Similar

Also see

Danish forhindringsbane

forhindringsbanecourse with a series of physical challenges that one performs sequentially

Dutch hindernisbaan

hindernisbaancourse with a series of physical challenges that one performs sequentially

Finnish esterata, esterata

esteratacourse with a series of physical challenges that one performs sequentially
esteratastrenuous experience, hassle
koetinkivistrenuous experience, hassle

French course d'obstacles, parcours du combattant

course d'obstaclescourse with a series of physical challenges that one performs sequentially
parcours du combattantstrenuous experience, hassle

German Hindernislauf, Hindernisparcours

Hindernislaufcourse with a series of physical challenges that one performs sequentially
Hindernisparcourscourse with a series of physical challenges that one performs sequentially
Hindernisstreckecourse with a series of physical challenges that one performs sequentially
Hindernislaufstrenuous experience, hassle
Hindernisparcoursstrenuous experience, hassle

Hungarian akadálypálya

akadálypályacourse with a series of physical challenges that one performs sequentially

Italian percorso ad ostacoli

percorso ad ostacolicourse with a series of physical challenges that one performs sequentially

Japanese アスレチック

アスレチックcourse with a series of physical challenges that one performs sequentially

Polish tor przeszkód, przeszkoda

tor przeszkódcourse with a series of physical challenges that one performs sequentially
przeszkodastrenuous experience, hassle

Swedish hinderbana

hinderbanacourse with a series of physical challenges that one performs sequentially

Ukrainian смуга перешкод

смуга перешкод (smuha pereškod)course with a series of physical challenges that one performs sequentially

Cite this entry

APA

obstacle course. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/obstacle%20course

MLA

“obstacle course.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/obstacle%20course. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “obstacle course,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/obstacle%20course.