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

But Cook’s shoulder was injured in just his third game, and despite finishing the season with great statistics, he was diagnosed with a torn rotator cuff. —Jeff Suess, The Enquirer, 30 July 2025

On Monday, the club announced that All-Star starter Kris Bubic will miss the remainder of the 2025 season with a left rotator cuff strain. —Kansas City Star, 29 July 2025

Walter missed all of last season with a rotator cuff injury, but did not even get to finish the season on the Red Sox roster. —Jon Vankin, MSNBC Newsweek, 26 July 2025

Zane Staubach’s rotator cuff is torn and will require surgery. —Jessica Van Egeren, jsonline.com, 7 July 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