armpit

noun

arm·​pit ˈärm-ˌpit 

1

: the hollow beneath the junction of the arm and shoulder

2

: the least desirable place : pit

77th Street Station … was the armpit of detective duty

—Joseph Wambaugh

Examples of armpit in a Sentence

a city described as the armpit of America

Recent Examples on the Web

Black women, in particular, are at a higher risk of developing HS, which carries a lot of shame and stigma due to its appearance and the location of the nodules, which can show up on your armpits, genitals, butt, or under your breasts—anywhere skin rubs on skin. —Julia Craven, SELF, 29 Mar. 2024

In most cases, there is a painful swelling of the lymph node in the groin, armpit or neck areas. —Gabe Hauari, USA TODAY, 12 Mar. 2024

Two years later, in 2017, after experiencing extreme fatigue and additional lumps in her armpit area, Reece was diagnosed with stage IV hormone receptor-positive, HER2-positive metastatic breast cancer at age 39. —Pamela Appea, Parents, 9 Mar. 2024

Many detected it themselves, either through self-examination (25%) or by accident (18%), for example, when applying deodorant or shaving their armpits. —Kylie Gilbert, Glamour, 22 Mar. 2024

What began with skin quickly expanded into much more, including organic armpit wash, eczema wash, and oral care products. —Nafeesah Allen, Health, 11 Mar. 2024

The disease typically started with a fever, followed by swellings in the groin and armpit, then a coma or delirium, then death. —Tom Metcalfe, Scientific American, 26 Jan. 2024

The deputies don’t respond, and the one rendering aid calls for a compression patch under the teen’s armpit and starts CPR. —Ben Brasch, Washington Post, 14 Mar. 2024

In addition, she’s getting tested for a chain of growths that appeared around her groin, under her armpits, and below her breasts. —Elizabeth B. Kim, The Enquirer, 1 Feb. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

armpit

noun

arm·​pit ˈärm-ˌpit 

: the hollow beneath the spot where the arm and shoulder join

Medical Definition

armpit

noun

arm·​pit ˈärm-ˌpit 

: the hollow beneath the junction of the arm and shoulder : axilla