sciatic nerve

noun

: either of the pair of largest nerves in the body that arise one on each side from the nerve plexus supplying the posterior limb and pelvic region and that pass out of the pelvis and down the back of the thigh

Examples of sciatic nerve in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Per Mayo Clinic, sciatica refers to pain that travels along the path of the sciatic nerve from the buttocks and down each leg. —Becca Longmire, PEOPLE, 21 Jan. 2026

Target Areas: Hamstrings, gluteal muscles, and sacral muscles Benefits: Improves hamstring length tension, neural mobility, including the sciatic nerve, and helps unload the low back and sacrum Modifications: Try a straddle wall stretch based on comfort and flexibility. —Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 20 Jan. 2026

The team was even able to connect the new nerve to a mouse’s sciatic nerve for testing. —Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 11 Jan. 2026

LeBron James finally back in action The Los Angeles Lakers welcomed the return of LeBron James to the basketball court with a win − and a 140-point explosion − after their superstar missed the first 14 games of the season with a sciatic nerve injury. —Robert Abitbol, USA Today, 22 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1726, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for sciatic nerve

• conserve
• deserve
• manoeuvre
• observe
• preserve
• reserve
• subserve
• curve
• mirv
• serve
• swerve
• verve

Kids Definition

sciatic nerve

noun

sī-ˌat-ik-

: a nerve that runs down the back of the thigh and is the largest nerve in the body

Medical Definition

sciatic nerve

noun

: either of the pair of largest nerves in the body that arise one on each side from the sacral plexus and that pass out of the pelvis through the greater sciatic foramen and down the back of the thigh to its lower third where division into the tibial and common peroneal nerves occurs