fibula

noun

fib·​u·​la ˈfi-byə-lə How to pronounce fibula (audio)
plural fibulae ˈfi-byə-lē How to pronounce fibula (audio)
-lī
or fibulas
1
: the outer and usually smaller of the two bones between the knee and ankle in the hind or lower limbs of vertebrates
2
: a clasp resembling a safety pin used especially by the ancient Greeks and Romans
fibular adjective

Illustration of fibula

Illustration of fibula
  • fibula 2

Examples of fibula in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Lions coach Dan Campbell said Friday the team still is trying to discern how ready Houston is to contribute after missing four months with a fractured fibula. Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press, 19 Jan. 2024 The dinosaur had a healing femur and infected tibia and fibula. The Indianapolis Star, 5 Jan. 2024 Examples of long bones include the bones of the leg and arm — like the femur and the fibula — as well as the bones of the fingers and toes. Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 3 Nov. 2023 The victim was struck in the left foot and left fibula, according to the police incident report. Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 1 Feb. 2024 Bullied by his coop-mates after suffering a fibula injury, one of DeGeneres’ many feathery friends had to be re-homed. Bailey Richards, Peoplemag, 13 Jan. 2024 Torro sustained an open fracture of the tibia and fibula with serious bleeding because his binding failed to release as he was being carried in the 15 foot-wide hard slab avalanche. Natalie Kainz, NBC News, 14 Dec. 2023 Edge rusher James Houston also is due back soon from a fractured fibula. Dave Birkett, Detroit Free Press, 3 Jan. 2024 In 2019, docs removed a baseball-sized tumor from his jaw and repaired the bone with a piece of his fibula. Cori Ritchey, Men's Health, 17 May 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fibula.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Latin, pin, clasp; akin to Latin figere to fasten

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of fibula was in 1578

Dictionary Entries Near fibula

Cite this Entry

“Fibula.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fibula. Accessed 29 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

fibula

noun
fib·​u·​la ˈfib-yə-lə How to pronounce fibula (audio)
plural fibulae -ˌlē How to pronounce fibula (audio)
-ˌlī
or fibulas
: the outer and usually the smaller of the two bones between the knee and ankle of the hind or lower limb
fibular adjective

Medical Definition

fibula

noun
fib·​u·​la ˈfib-yə-lə How to pronounce fibula (audio)
plural fibulae
-lē also -ˌlī
or fibulas
: the outer or postaxial and usually the smaller of the two bones of the hind or lower limb below the knee that is the slenderest bone of the human body in proportion to its length, articulates above with the external tuberosity of the tibia and below with the talus, and has its lower end forming the external malleolus of the ankle

called also calf bone

fibular adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on fibula

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