tibia

noun

tib·​ia ˈti-bē-ə 

plural tibiae ˈti-bē-ˌē  -bē-ˌī  also tibias

1

: the inner and usually larger of the two bones of the vertebrate hind or lower limb between the knee and ankle

2

: the fourth joint of the leg of an insect between the femur and tarsus

tibial

ˈti-bē-əl 

adjective

Examples of tibia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Lechner was a member of the 75th Rangers in Somalia and suffered a gruesome gunshot wound to his tibia. — David Hookstead Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026

Three in the forelegs (the humerus, radius, and ulna) and two in the hind legs (femur and tibia). — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 14 Oct. 2026

Two thicker cartilage crescents — the menisci — cushion the space between the femur and tibia. — Aaron Steckelberg, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2026

Pulisic, who turns 28 on Friday, came off in the second half of the round of 16 loss to Belgium because of a microfracture of his right tibia and fibula and didn't make his season debut for AC Milan until last weekend. — ABC News, 17 Sep. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin

First Known Use

circa 1706, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for tibia

• amphibia
• tibiae

Kids Definition

tibia

noun

tib·​ia ˈtib-ē-ə 

plural tibiae -ē-ˌē 

-ē-ˌī

also tibias

1

: the inner and usually larger of the two bones of the vertebrate leg that is located between the knee and the ankle

called also shinbone

2

: the fourth joint of the leg of an insect between the femur and the tarsus

tibial

-ē-əl 

adjective

Medical Definition

tibia

noun

tib·​ia ˈtib-ē-ə 

plural tibiae -ē-ˌē  -ē-ˌī  also tibias

: the inner and usually larger of the two bones of the leg between the knee and ankle that articulates above with the femur and below with the talus

called also shinbone