wishbone

noun

wish·​bone ˈwish-ˌbōn 

1

: a forked bone in front of the breastbone in a bird consisting chiefly of the two clavicles fused at their median or lower end

2

: a variation of the T formation in which the halfbacks line up farther from the line of scrimmage than the fullback does

Illustration of wishbone

• W wishbone 1

Examples of wishbone in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For this window box, Pamela relied on dependable annuals like yellow shrimp plants, wishbone flowers, and impatiens to bring in pollinators. —Steve Bender, Southern Living, 20 Apr. 2026

Oklahoma has long been known for the wishbone offense and talented running backs like Billy Sims to Adrian Peterson to DeMarco Murray. —Josh Dubow, Chicago Tribune, 17 Apr. 2026

Cast in sterling silver, each piece is modeled on the bone of the area of the body where it will be worn — with a statement choker in the form of a wishbone, earrings modeled on ear bones found in avians and rings shaped after the bones of the feet. —Alex Wynne, Footwear News, 26 Jan. 2026

Senior digital design editor Zoë Sessums snagged her wishbone chairs at a small antique sale in Maine, and after repairs to the paper cord seats, the Danish beauties were as good as new. —Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 22 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

from the superstition that when two persons pull it apart the one getting the longer fragment will have a wish granted

First Known Use

1847, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for wishbone

• alone
• atone
• backbone
• bemoan
• bluestone
• breastbone
• brownstone
• capstone
• cheekbone
• condone
• curbstone
• cyclone

Kids Definition

wishbone

noun

wish·​bone ˈwish-ˌbōn 

: a bone in front of a bird's breastbone that is shaped like a V and consists chiefly of two fused clavicles