rotator cuff

noun

: a supporting and strengthening structure of the shoulder joint that is made up of the capsule of the shoulder joint blended with tendons and muscles as they pass to the capsule or across it to insert on the head of the humerus

Examples of rotator cuff in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Eovaldi dealt with elbow inflammation and a rotator cuff strain last season, as each injury cost him significant amounts of time and limited his ability to qualify among the league leaders. —Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 16 Jan. 2026

To help treat injuries, ranging from rotator cuff tears to bone fractures. —Evan Webeck, Mercury News, 16 Jan. 2026

Jones played in just 20 games last season due to a torn rotator cuff and thus didn't qualify for any awards. —Max Dible, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025

The Royals’ left-handed ace fought through a left rotator cuff strain but returned to form down the stretch. —Kansas City Star, 3 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1944, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for rotator cuff

• buff
• duff
• fluff
• gruff
• hough
• huff
• luff
• muff
• puff
• rough
• ruff
• scruff

Medical Definition

rotator cuff

noun

-ˌkəf 

: a supporting and strengthening structure of the shoulder joint that is made up of part of its capsule blended with tendons of the subscapularis, infraspinatus, supraspinatus, and teres minor muscles as they pass to the capsule or across it to insert on the humerus

called also musculotendinous cuff