noun
activist; campaigner; crusader
Refers to someone actively involved in a social or political movement. Often used with a cause, e.g., 平和運動家 (peace activist). Compare 活動家, which is more common for political activism.
See also: 活動家
彼女は女性の権利のための運動家として知られている。
She is known as a campaigner for women's rights.
Environmental activists held a demonstration.
noun
athlete; sporty person
Describes someone who is physically active or excels at sports. Less common than 運動選手 for professional athletes; often implies a general love for physical activity.
彼は小さい頃から運動家で、毎日走っている。
He has been a sporty person since childhood and runs every day.
運動選手 specifically means a sports athlete or player, often in a competitive context. 運動家 is broader and can refer to anyone who is physically active or sporty, not necessarily a professional.
Compound of 運動 (movement, exercise) and 家 (person, specialist). The activist sense likely developed from the idea of a person engaged in a social movement, while the athlete sense comes from physical exercise.