fibula

play

noun fib·u·la \ˈfi-byə-lə\

Definition of fibula

plural

fibulae

play \ˈfi-byə-lē, -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

play \ˈfi-byə-lər\ adjective

See fibula defined for English-language learners

See fibula defined for kids

Recent Examples of fibula from the Web

Lockett broke both is tibia and fibula in a game against the Arizona Cardinals on Dec. 24.

— bob condotta, The Seattle Times, "Seahawks OTA Day 2 notes: Tyler Lockett is sort of wearing a helmet", 31 May 2017
Breaux broke his fibula Week 1 and played just six games.

— josh katzenstein, NOLA.com, "Saints cornerbacks injured in 2016 return hungry; should lead to intense competition", 26 May 2017
A few years ago, if a horrific infection ate your jawbone, doctors had to build makeshift mandibles from your fibula, a process that left you sliced open as surgeons painstakingly whittled away at replacement bone.

— david macneal, WIRED, "The Strange and Radical New World of 3-D Printed Body Parts", 13 Oct. 2014

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'fibula'. Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Illustration of fibula

Origin and Etymology of fibula

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

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First Known Use: 1578

See Words from the same year

FIBULA Defined for English Language Learners

fibula

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noun

Definition of fibula for English Language Learners

medical : the outer one of the two bones below the knee in a person's leg

FIBULA Defined for Kids

fibula

play

noun fib·u·la \ˈfi-byə-lə\

Definition of fibula for Students

plural

fibulae

\-ˌlē, -ˌlī\ or

fibulas

: the outer and smaller of the two bones between the knee and ankle

Medical Dictionary

fibula

play

noun fib·u·la \ˈfib-yə-lə\

Medical Definition of fibula

plural

fibulae

\-lē also -ˌlī\play play 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