tibia

noun

tib·​ia ˈti-bē-ə 

plural tibiae ˈti-bē-ˌē  -bē-ˌī  also tibias

1

: the inner and usually larger of the two bones of the vertebrate hind or lower limb between the knee and ankle

2

: the fourth joint of the leg of an insect between the femur and tarsus

tibial

ˈti-bē-əl 

adjective

Examples of tibia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noah Hackey was among the babies who suffered injuries at the hands of Strotman after fracturing his tibia while in the hospital's NICU in September 2023. —Escher Walcott, PEOPLE, 8 June 2026

Bombito is returning from a fractured tibia. —ABC News, 5 June 2026

Compound movements like squats, deadlifts, rows and lunges place exactly the right kind of stress on the hip, spine and tibia, the sites most vulnerable to fracture. —Allison Palmer updated June 3, Charlotte Observer, 3 June 2026

My right leg was broken in three places which required surgical repair and a permanent titanium rod implanted along my tibia bone. —Michael Miller, New York Daily News, 22 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Latin

First Known Use

circa 1706, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for tibia

• amphibia
• tibiae

Kids Definition

tibia

noun

tib·​ia ˈtib-ē-ə 

plural tibiae -ē-ˌē 

-ē-ˌī

also tibias

1

: the inner and usually larger of the two bones of the vertebrate leg that is located between the knee and the ankle

called also shinbone

2

: the fourth joint of the leg of an insect between the femur and the tarsus

tibial

-ē-əl 

adjective

Medical Definition

tibia

noun

tib·​ia ˈtib-ē-ə 

plural tibiae -ē-ˌē  -ē-ˌī  also tibias

: the inner and usually larger of the two bones of the leg between the knee and ankle that articulates above with the femur and below with the talus

called also shinbone