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

Tricep stretch Raise one arm and bend your elbow to bring your hand between your shoulder blades. —Claudia Herwig, Glamour, 20 May 2025

Hang from the hands with elbows fully extended, then pull the chest towards the bar and ensure your shoulder blades are pulled down and back towards each other. —Laura Schober, Health, 13 May 2025

On the back of the dress was a third shoe, a tonal 3D trompe l’oeil placed between her shoulder blades. —Marina Watts, People.com, 3 Mar. 2025

Try it now: Practice savoring now with this shoulder stretch: Reach your hands behind you and clasp them, pulling your shoulder blades together while letting your head nod forward. —Katy Bowman, NPR, 13 Apr. 2025

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