fibula

noun

fib·​u·​la ˈfi-byə-lə 

plural fibulae 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

ˈfi-byə-lər 

adjective

Illustration of fibula

• fibula 2

Examples of fibula in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Most notably, superstar pass rusher Aidan Hutchinson missed a huge chunk of the season after suffering a season-ending broken tibia and fibula against the Dallas Cowboys. —Evan Massey, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 May 2025

But 2024 went off track early when Pacheco fractured a fibula in Week 2 against the Cincinnati Bengals and missed the next nine games. —Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 24 May 2025

Hutchinson underwent surgery to repair a broken tibia and fibula at Baylor White Medical Center in Irving, Texas, remaining in the area for a few days. —Colton Pouncy, New York Times, 22 May 2025

He was taken to a hospital with a tibia and fibula fracture and quickly rushed into surgery. —Joe Kozlowski, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

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

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

fibula

noun

fib·​u·​la ˈfib-yə-lə 

plural fibulae -ˌlē 

-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

-lər 

adjective

Medical Definition

fibula

noun

fib·​u·​la ˈfib-yə-lə 

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

-lər 

adjective