jugular vein

noun

: any of several veins of each side of the neck that return blood from the head

Examples of jugular vein in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

An incident in which an astronaut experienced a case of jugular venous thrombosis, a dangerous condition in which a blood clot can form in a person’s jugular vein, was also revealed in an academic journal. —Jackie Wattles, CNN Money, 8 Jan. 2026

In at least one case, pharmaceutical stocks aboard the ISS had to be rationed when an astronaut experienced a blood clot in his or her jugular vein. —Josh Dinner, Space.com, 8 Jan. 2026

The Quran says that God is closer to a man than his jugular vein. —Graeme Wood, The Atlantic, 2 Sep. 2025

Chapin was killed by a stab wound to the neck that severed his jugular vein, and subclavian vein and artery. —Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 24 July 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1597, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for jugular vein

• cyclopropane
• isobutane
• legerdemain
• nitromethane
• ultramontane
• abstain
• airplane
• alkane
• arcane
• arraign
• attain
• backplane

Kids Definition

jugular vein

noun

: any of several veins on each side of the neck that return blood from the head

called also jugular

Medical Definition

jugular vein

noun

: any of several veins of each side of the neck: as

a

: a vein that collects the blood from the interior of the cranium, the superficial part of the face, and the neck, runs down the neck on the outside of the internal and common carotid arteries, and unites with the subclavian vein to form the brachiocephalic vein

called also internal jugular vein

b

: a smaller and more superficial vein that collects most of the blood from the exterior of the cranium and deep parts of the face and opens into the subclavian vein

called also external jugular vein

c

: a vein that commences near the hyoid bone and joins the terminal part of the external jugular vein or the subclavian vein

called also anterior jugular vein