hamate

noun

ha·​mate ˈhā-ˌmāt 

: a bone on the inner side of the second row of the carpus in mammals

Examples of hamate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The Minnesota Twins catcher continued an impressive return from a broken hamate bone in Friday night’s 5-3 comeback victory over the Seattle Mariners, providing critical insurance late with a solo homer. — Dan Hayes, New York Times, 1 Aug. 2026

Vinnie Pasquantino missed nearly four weeks with a hamate injury. — Kansas City Star, 23 July 2026

The seven-time All-Star has been sidelined since getting hurt against Detroit on June 13 and having an operation to remove the hamate bone in his left hand. — ABC News, 22 July 2026

Minnesota’s Ryan Jeffers, recovering from a hamate fracture, is an obvious target who fits the latter description. — Gary Phillips, New York Daily News, 10 July 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin hamatus hooked, from hamus hook

First Known Use

1924, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hamate

• dammit
• gamut

Medical Definition

hamate

1 of 2 adjective

ha·​mate

ˈhā-ˌmāt also ˈham-ət

: shaped like a hook

hamate

2 of 2 noun

variants or hamate bone

: a bone on the little-finger side of the second row of the carpus in mammals

called also unciform, unciform bone