The term physical effort can be described as EXERTION, which is an 8 letter word. EXERTION is the use of physical or mental energy to do work. It is the act of applying force in order to accomplish a task. EXERTION can be used to describe any type of physical or mental activity that requires effort. It is often used to describe activities such as exercise, sports, and manual labor. EXERTION can also refer to the amount of effort put into a task, such as studying for a test or completing a project.