What is the strongest meaning of the adjective "fit" nowadays?
The Cambridge dictionary lists (apart from other meanings), the adjective "fit" as both healthy/strong and (slang) sexually attractive.
I am a non-native speaker but very much interested in English language and linguistics and am wondering to which extent does the meaning of the adjective shift from the first to the other.
It is pretty normal that slang or vernacular terms, over time, enter the proper or formal language and one can see how close the two meanings are: health/strength/attractiveness.
I guess, put simply, if you hear the short sentence "She/He is fit", which meaning comes to your mind first, nowadays? I presume it also has to do with your age..?
Do you think that the first meaning will disappear or will become old-fashioned, similar to the word gay for happy/joyful?
I am asking specifically in the UK sub, as I don't think the second meaning exists in the US English. But I might be mistaken.
Also, apologies, if I presume the same usage across all countries of the UK. I'm not really sure if it's country-specific.
Thank you.
Posted Sep 21, 2026, 6:22 PM UTC