ligament

noun

lig·​a·​ment ˈli-gə-mənt 

1

: a tough fibrous band of tissue connecting the articular extremities of bones or supporting an organ in place

2

: a connecting or unifying bond

the law of nations, the great ligament of mankind

—Edmund Burke

ligamentous

ˌli-gə-ˈmen-təs 

adjective

Examples of ligament in a Sentence

He sprained ligaments in his knee.

Recent Examples on the Web

The Padres announced Friday that starter Joe Musgrove is out for the playoffs and through next season after tearing the ulnar ligament in his right elbow during the fourth inning of San Diego’s Wild Card game Wednesday at Petco. —Barry M. Bloom, Sportico.com, 5 Oct. 2024

While this is happening, the collagen in the body wall in that region softens and breaks, and so do the muscles and ligaments that hold together ossicles. —Elizabeth Rayne, Ars Technica, 14 Sep. 2024

The Dodgers were already without homegrown arms Dustin May and Tony Gonsolin, who had Tommy John surgery last year, and Emmet Sheehan and Kyle Hurt, who underwent the elbow ligament replacement procedure this season. —Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 13 Aug. 2024

Deeper injuries like bones or deep ligaments will not benefit and the topical benefits can not be absorb deep enough to have an impact. —Tribune Content Agency, The Mercury News, 4 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Medieval Latin & Latin; Medieval Latin ligamentum, from Latin, band, tie, from ligare

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing ligament

• anterior cruciate ligament
• cruciate ligament
• medial collateral ligament
• posterior cruciate ligament
• suspensory ligament
• ulnar collateral ligament
• ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction

Kids Definition

ligament

noun

lig·​a·​ment ˈlig-ə-mənt 

: a tough band of tissue that holds bones together or keeps an organ in place in the body

Etymology

Middle English ligament "connecting tissue, ligament," derived from Latin ligamentum "band, something used for tying," from ligare "to bind, tie" — related to ally

Medical Definition

ligament

noun

lig·​a·​ment ˈlig-ə-mənt 

1

: a tough band of tissue that serves to connect the articular extremities of bones or to support or retain an organ in place and is usually composed of coarse bundles of dense white fibrous tissue parallel or closely interlaced, pliant, and flexible, but not extensible

2

: any of various folds or bands of pleura, peritoneum, or mesentery connecting parts or organs