The men's 200 metres event was part of the track and field athletics programme at the 1920 Summer Olympics.

Great Britain reached the podium for a second consecutive Games with Harry Edward's bronze.

The strongest non-American competitor was Harry Edward of Great Britain, the 1920 AAA champion.

[2] Czechoslovakia, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Luxembourg, Monaco, New Zealand, Spain, and Switzerland each made their debut in the event.

The United States made its fifth appearance, the only nation to have competed at each edition of the 200 metres to date.