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

The Ramos family was notified in 2015 about the discovery of Eduardo’s tibia after the yearslong identification process. —Débora Rey, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2026

The Ramos family was notified in 2015 about the discovery of Eduardo’s tibia after the yearslong identification process. —ABC News, 22 Mar. 2026

The skier’s crash at the Milan Cortina Olympics left her with a complex tibia fracture and a rare complication that required emergency surgery. —Ashley Abramson, Washington Post, 26 Feb. 2026

The tibia is the shin bone, and the fibula is the slimmer bone next to it. —Sarah Shephard, New York Times, 24 Feb. 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