Meanings
plural podium positions
- hobbiesAn outcome of being among the best three participants in a competition.
For advanced triathletes racing short—course events, optimizing transition time may mean the difference between a podium position and no podium position.
2013, Joe Friel, Jim Vance, Triathlon Science, Human Kinetics, →ISBN, page 4412 more examples
Elsewhere on the circuit, Ryo's ZX-7RR had run out of gas and Russell darted past, only to run wide on the final lap, forfeiting the podium position. “We were looking for the win here, so it's disappointing to finish fourth," Russell said.
1997 November, Cycle World Magazine, page 95If winning is not possible, then a podium position is next best with second and third placegetters at least gaining due acclamation, but that is about where it ends, so no points have been awarded for finishing below third place.
2013, Angus Dougall, The Greatest Racing Driver, Balboa Press, →ISBN, page 75
Origin
Referring to the podium that is often used when announcing or honoring the winners of a competition that places the winner on the highest step with second and third place next to the winner at a lower level.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Dutch podiumpositie, podiumplaats
- podiumpositieTranslations
- podiumplaatsTranslations
German Treppchenplatz, Podestplatz
- TreppchenplatzTranslations
- PodestplatzTranslations
- PodiumsplatzTranslations
Cite this entry
podium position. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/podium%20position
“podium position.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/podium%20position. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “podium position,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/podium%20position.
Source: podium position on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.