funny bone

noun

1

: the place at the back of the elbow where the ulnar nerve rests against a prominence of the humerus

2

: a sense of humor

Examples of funny bone in a Sentence

I hit my funny bone on the edge of the table.

Recent Examples on the Web

Much of the dialogue has an expository flatness, which only heightens the grim comedy of the whole conceit; Cronenberg’s cool, latex-sheathed touch keeps brushing up against your funny bone. —Justin Chang, New Yorker, 11 Apr. 2025

Embodying the cast of over-the-top characters, the contestants did their best to tickle the judges' funny bones. —Vic Verbalaitis, Newsweek, 17 Mar. 2025

On September 11, 2001, the Twin Towers came down and broke our funny bone, or so it was said. —Lauren Michele Jackson, The New Yorker, 27 Feb. 2025

Ruben and company incisively tap into the overlap, intertwining the two disparate tones to not only tickle our funny bones, but also put us on edge. —Courtney Howard, Variety, 31 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

from the tingling felt when it is struck

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for funny bone

• acetone
• anglophone
• baritone
• bourguignon
• buspirone
• chaperon
• chaperone
• cobblestone
• collarbone
• cornerstone
• cortisone
• dictaphone

Kids Definition

funny bone

noun

1

: a place at the back of the elbow where a blow causes a painful tingling sensation

2

: a sense of humor

it tickled my funny bone

Medical Definition

funny bone

noun

fun·​ny bone ˈfən-ē-ˌ 

: the place at the back of the elbow where the ulnar nerve rests against a prominence of the humerus

called also crazy bone