shoulder blade

noun

plural shoulder blades

: either of a pair of large, flat, triangular-shaped bones that lie above the rib cage on either side of the upper back : scapula

a fractured shoulder blade

He has a wing-shaped tribal tattoo between his shoulder blades.

—Cliff Mehrtens

… types who didn't wash and grew hair to their shoulder blades.

—Curtis W. Casewit

Examples of shoulder blade in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But women, more than men, are more likely to experience the painful pressure in other places, such as the upper back, neck, jaw and shoulder blades. —Nadine Avola, Flow Space, 19 Feb. 2026

This group of muscles shapes your back from your shoulder blades down to your lower spine. —Ciara Lucas, SELF, 15 Feb. 2026

Keep the opposite shoulder blade and arm anchored to the floor while maintaining core engagement and control throughout the stretch. —Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 20 Jan. 2026

The assemblage includes fragments of the shoulder blades, pelvis, and sacrum, along with nearly complete upper and lower arm bones, a jaw, and teeth, according to Discover Magazine. —Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 17 Jan. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for shoulder blade

• accolade
• ambuscade
• antegrade
• balustrade
• barricade
• cannonade
• cavalcade
• centigrade
• chambermaid
• colonnade
• countertrade
• disobeyed

Kids Definition

shoulder blade

noun

: the flat triangular bone of the back of the shoulder that forms a joint with the humerus of the upper arm

called also scapula

Medical Definition

shoulder blade

noun

: scapula