pectoral muscle

noun

: any of the muscles which connect the ventral walls of the chest with the bones of the upper arm and shoulder and of which there are two on each side of the human body

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web The Minnesota Vikings announced Barr, a linebacker, suffered a season-ending torn pectoral muscle. —

oregonlive, 22 Sep. 2020 Williams is sharing first-team snaps with 2019 third-round pick Connor McGovern, who missed all of last year with a torn pectoral muscle. —

Calvin Watkins, Dallas News, 12 Aug. 2020 The valuable rookie righthander, who has a 1.99 earned run average in 45 relief appearances, hasn’t pitched since Sept. 19 because of what the team has said is a strained pectoral muscle. —

BostonGlobe.com, 28 Sep. 2021 This quick return would duplicate what Watt did in 2019 with the Texans when he was expected to miss four months with a torn pectoral muscle, but returned in just two months in time to play in the playoff win over Buffalo and the heart-breaking loss to the Chiefs in the second round. —

Matt Young, Chron, 7 Jan. 2022 Mostly recovered from a torn pectoral muscle that cut his 2022 season short, Smith would also address a problem area given Green Bay OLB Rashan Gary tore an ACL midway through last season. —

Nate Davis, USA TODAY, 22 Mar. 2023 So long as Smith's recovery from a season-tending torn pectoral muscle is on track, the 6-3, 235-pounder should be an enticing option for any team willing to be creative with his deployment. —

Michael Middlehurst-schwartz, Detroit Free Press, 10 Jan. 2023 He’s reportedly been diagnosed with a torn pectoral muscle and will undergo season-ending surgery. —

Creg Stephenson | Cstephenson@al.com, al, 1 Nov. 2022 Peters, one of the NFL’s best ball hawks, missed all of the 2021 season with a torn ACL, while Marlon Humphrey missed the final five games with a torn pectoral muscle. —

Jonas Shaffer, baltimoresun.com, 4 Feb. 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pectoral muscle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of pectoral muscle was in 1615

See more words from the same year

Dictionary Entries Near pectoral muscle

pectoral limb

pectoral muscle

pectoral ridge

See More Nearby Entries

Cite this Entry

Style

“Pectoral muscle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pectoral%20muscle. Accessed 5 Jun. 2023.

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Kids Definition

pectoral muscle

noun

: any of the muscles which connect the front walls of the chest with the bones of the upper arm and shoulder and of which there are two on each side in the human body