plural ilia
ˈi-lē-ə 
: the broad, dorsal, upper, and largest of the three principal bones composing either half of the pelvis
Examples of ilium in a Sentence
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In contrast, the upper part of the hip, the ilium, was surprisingly broad — a humanlike adaptation for walking on the ground.
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Jill Neimark, Discover Magazine, 28 July 2011
The ilium looks like those of a living group of frogs called the helmeted frogs.
—Lucas Joel, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2020
The last bones to go, the ilium and sacrum (the big hip bones atop the skeleton) are the heaviest bone structure.
—Steve Johnson and Phil Geib, chicagotribune.com, 3 Feb. 2018
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Jill Neimark, Discover Magazine, 28 July 2011
The ilium looks like those of a living group of frogs called the helmeted frogs.
—Lucas Joel, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2020
The last bones to go, the ilium and sacrum (the big hip bones atop the skeleton) are the heaviest bone structure.
—Steve Johnson and Phil Geib, chicagotribune.com, 3 Feb. 2018
Cite this Entry
“Ilium.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ilium. Accessed 3 Jul. 2025.
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