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

Swanson has already had surgeries to repair an artery in his calf and repair his tibia bone. —Charna Flam, PEOPLE, 8 Nov. 2025

The rider was taken to a hospital, where he was being treated for an open fracture to his tibia-fibula and a fracture to his femur, the department stated. —City News Service, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Nov. 2025

No evidence of ‘over-killing’ Together, the tooth and tibia tell a tale of First Peoples as fossil collectors, Archer told CNN in an email. —Mindy Weisberger, CNN Money, 27 Oct. 2025

Zollers had served as the backup since Week 1, when redshirt junior Sam Horn broke his right tibia. —Zach Sweet, Kansas City Star, 27 Oct. 2025

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