hamstring

1 of 2

noun

ham·​string ˈham-ˌstriŋ 

1

a

: either of two groups of tendons at the back of the human knee

b

: any of three muscles at the back of the thigh that function to flex and rotate the leg and extend the thigh

2

: a large tendon above and behind the hock of a quadruped

hamstring

2 of 2

verb

hamstrung ˈham-ˌstrəŋ  ; hamstringing ˈham-ˌstriŋ-iŋ  ; hamstrings

transitive verb

1

: to make ineffective or powerless : disable

hamstrung by guilt

2

: to deprive of the use of a leg by cutting the leg tendons

Synonyms

Verb

• paralyze
• cripple
• undermine
• weaken
• incapacitate

Examples of hamstring in a Sentence

Verb

The mayor tried to hamstring our efforts by cutting the budget.

The company claims it is being hamstrung by government regulations.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

The Nationals are also without RHP Derek Law (forearm), RHP Orlando Ribalta (biceps), INF Paul DeJong (nose), RHP Mason Thompson (Tommy John surgery), LHP Andrew Chafin (hamstring), RHP Josiah Gray (elbow) and LHP DJ Herz (UCL). —Jeff Sanders, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 June 2025

The England international defender is into his tenth season at Manchester City but foot and hamstring injuries plagued him last season. —Jordan Campbell, New York Times, 22 June 2025

Verb

And if the two bills end up combined, rather than the House rubber-stamping its own version of the Senate’s Genius Act, the crypto industry’s $100 million shot at enacting legislation could be seriously hamstrung. —Preston Fore, Fortune, 24 June 2025

The Federal Reserve may be hamstrung if inflation surges, unable to lower its key interest rates that tend to lift the economy and markets. —Matt Egan, CNN Money, 23 June 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1565, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

1641, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for hamstring

• bowstring
• coiling
• downswing
• drawstring
• forewing
• lapwing
• mainspring
• offspring
• plaything
• shoestring
• texting
• upswing

Kids Definition

hamstring

1 of 2 noun

ham·​string ˈham-ˌstriŋ 

1

: either of two groups of tendons at the back of the human knee

2

: any of three muscles at the back of the thigh that function to extend the thigh, rotate the leg, and bend the knee

hamstring

2 of 2 verb

hamstrung

-ˌstrəŋ

; hamstringing

-ˌstriŋ-iŋ

1

: to cripple by cutting the leg tendons

2

: to make ineffective or powerless : cripple

hamstrung by restrictions

Medical Definition

hamstring

1 of 2 noun

ham·​string ˈham-ˌstriŋ 

1

a

: either of two groups of tendons bounding the upper part of the popliteal space at the back of the knee and forming the tendons of insertion of some muscles of the back of the thigh

b

: hamstring muscle

2

: a large tendon above and behind the hock of a quadruped corresponding to the human Achilles tendon

hamstring

2 of 2 transitive verb

hamstrung -ˌstrəŋ  ; hamstringing -ˌstriŋ-iŋ 

: to cripple by cutting the leg tendons

folklore has it that wolf packs try to hamstring their prey

—John Madson