clavicle

noun

clav·​i·​cle ˈkla-vi-kəl 

: a bone of the shoulder girdle typically serving to link the scapula and sternum

called also collarbone

clavicular

kla-ˈvi-kyə-lər 

klə-

adjective

Examples of clavicle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

After a standout showing as captain of Canada’s gold-medal team at last summer’s Hlinka-Gretzky Cup, Schaefer posted 22 points in 17 games with Erie last fall before breaking his clavicle at the wold junior championship. —Carol Schram, Forbes.com, 8 June 2025

There is an incision that is made and an insertion of a tube into the right clavicle. —J.m. Banks, Kansas City Star, 9 Apr. 2025

Outlets report that authorities found five types of human bones put up for sale on the website, including two human skull fragments for $90, a human clavicle and scapula for $90, a human rib for $35, a human vertebrae for $35 and a partial human skull for $600. —Gabrielle Rockson, People.com, 14 Apr. 2025

His injuries included eight ribs broken in 14 places, a broken right knee and ankle, a broken left leg tibia and ankle, a broken right clavicle and shoulder and more. —Katcy Stephan, Variety, 1 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

French clavicule, from New Latin clavicula, from Latin, diminutive of Latin clavis; akin to Greek kleid-, kleis key, kleiein to close

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

clavicle

noun

clav·​i·​cle ˈklav-i-kəl 

: a bone of the shoulder that joins the breastbone and the shoulder blade

called also collarbone

Medical Definition

clavicle

noun

clav·​i·​cle ˈklav-i-kəl 

: a bone of the shoulder girdle that links the scapula and sternum, is situated just above the first rib on either side of the neck, and has the form of a narrow elongated S

called also collarbone

clavicular

kla-ˈvik-yə-lər, klə- 

adjective