ulna

1 of 2

noun (1)

ul·​na ˈəl-nə 

plural ulnae ˈəl-nē  or ulnas

: the bone on the little-finger side of the human forearm

also : a corresponding part of the forelimb of vertebrates above fishes

ulnar

ˈəl-nər 

-ˌnär

adjective

ulnare

2 of 2

noun (2)

ul·​nare

ˌəlˈna(a)rē, 

-ˈnärē

variants or ulnar

ˈəlnə(r)

plural ulnaria

-a(a)rēə, 

-ärēə

or ulnars

1

: the third carpal bone or element of the proximal row counting from the radial side

specifically : cuneiform sense 1b

2

or ulnar carpal : a bone of a bird probably representing the ulnare and centrale and sometimes also the fifth metacarpal

Examples of ulna in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The blast fractured his right ulna in four places, leaving him with shrapnel wounds. —Bart Jansen, USA Today, 23 Apr. 2026

Cervical spine injuries, the other sort of top ones would be radius ulna fractures of the forearm. —CBS News, 11 Mar. 2026

Published in Science Advances, the study revealed that Sahelanthropus had a relatively long femur relative to its ulna—additional evidence of bipedalism. —Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 2 Jan. 2026

The findings contained fossils of vertebrae, ribs, humerus, ulna, fibula and foot bones. —Julia Jacobo, ABC News, 2 Sep. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

New Latin, from Latin, elbow — more at ell

Noun (2)

New Latin ulnare, from neuter of ulnaris ulnar

First Known Use

Noun (1)

1541, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing ulna

• radio-ulna

Kids Definition

ulna

noun

ul·​na ˈəl-nə 

plural ulnae -nē  or ulnas

: the bone on the little-finger side of the human forearm

also : a corresponding part of the forelimb of vertebrates

ulnar

-nər 

adjective

Medical Definition

ulna

noun

ul·​na ˈəl-nə 

plural ulnae -nē  or ulnas

: the bone on the little-finger side of the human forearm that forms with the humerus the elbow joint and serves as a pivot in rotation of the hand