rotator cuff

noun

: a supporting and strengthening structure of the shoulder joint that is made up of the capsule of the shoulder joint blended with tendons and muscles as they pass to the capsule or across it to insert on the head of the humerus

Examples of rotator cuff in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Making his return from right rotator cuff tendinitis, Schmidt limited the Royals to three runs, four hits and two walks with two strikeouts on 73 pitches and collected a no-decision. —Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 17 Apr. 2025

Herbig has 30 career starts and was taking first-team reps at center last summer for the Pittsburgh Steelers before suffering a season-ending rotator cuff injury. —Ben Standig, New York Times, 11 Apr. 2025

Matt Vierling, the Tigers’ most likely backup option in center field, is still nursing a strain in his right rotator cuff. —Cody Stavenhagen, The Athletic, 25 Mar. 2025

The righthander has missed the beginning of the major league season with rotator cuff tendinitis. —Kels Dayton, Hartford Courant, 2 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1944, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for rotator cuff

• buff
• duff
• fluff
• gruff
• hough
• huff
• luff
• muff
• puff
• rough
• ruff
• scruff

Medical Definition

rotator cuff

noun

-ˌkəf 

: a supporting and strengthening structure of the shoulder joint that is made up of part of its capsule blended with tendons of the subscapularis, infraspinatus, supraspinatus, and teres minor muscles as they pass to the capsule or across it to insert on the humerus

called also musculotendinous cuff