Pereira, Hugo VTeixeira, Diogo SFisher, JamesFleck, Steven JHelms, EricIde, Bernardo NIzquierdo, MikelNedergaard, AndersPhilips, StuartPinto, Ronei SPlotkin, Daniel LTurner, Anthony NSchoenfeld, Brad J2025-09-032025-09-032025-03-18Journal of Sports Sciences, ISSN: 0264-0414 (Print); 1466-447X (Online), Taylor and Francis Group, 43(8), 767-775. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2025.24773930264-04141466-447Xhttp://hdl.handle.net/10292/19750The inconsistency and disparities in existing functional training definitions have led to confusion when explaining the concept and its potential. The wide range of interpretations suggests that any training approach could be deemed functional, thereby diminishing the significance of the term and significantly limiting its understanding and application. Thus, this paper aimed to develop the first consensual definition of functional training using an international e-Delphi method. From a panel of 31 experts initially selected, 13 participated in the consensus. The panel presented the following definition: 'Functional training is a physical interventional approach that contributes to the enhancement of human performance, according to individual goals, in sports, daily life, rehabilitation, or fitness, and takes into consideration the specificity of the task and the unique responsiveness of each individual'. However, redundancy of the functional training definition emerged as a relevant consideration for this conceptual and methodological advancement, and a proposal to avoid the distinction between functional training and the general concept of training was presented (i.e., no real use of functional training as a concept). It was proposed that a training program or regimen could be analyzed based on a continuum of functionality, which could support further developments in this topic.This is the Preprint version of an article published in the Journal of Sports Sciences. Note that the Preprint has not been peer-reviewed. The Version of Record is © 2025 Informa UK Limited, trading as Taylor & Francis Group, and available at DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2025.2477393.conceptualizationexercisefunctionfunctionalityMovementsportMovementconceptualizationexercisefunctionfunctionalitysport4201 Allied Health and Rehabilitation Science42 Health SciencesRehabilitation1106 Human Movement and Sports Sciences1302 Curriculum and PedagogySport Sciences3202 Clinical sciences4207 Sports science and exercise5201 Applied and developmental psychologyHumansConsensusPhysical Conditioning, HumanDelphi TechniqueTerminology as TopicPhysical Functional PerformanceJournal ArticleOpenAccess10.1080/02640414.2025.2477393