adductor

noun

ad·​duc·​tor ə-ˈdək-tər 

a-

1

: a muscle that draws a part toward the median line of the body or toward the axis of an extremity

2

: a muscle that closes the valves of a bivalve mollusk

Examples of adductor in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Coby White led Chicago with 20 points, and Kevin Huerter connected for 16 off the bench in his return from left adductor strain as the Bulls lost for the eighth time in nine games. —CBS News, 15 Dec. 2025

Arguably none had a more positive impact than Finnegan, who missed two weeks in September with a right adductor strain. —Jon Paul Hoornstra, MSNBC Newsweek, 10 Dec. 2025

Real Madrid expect defender Eder Militao to be sidelined for around two weeks after suffering an adductor injury in his right leg. —Mario Cortegana, New York Times, 19 Nov. 2025

Contract your abdominals and hip adductors to lift your knee toward the opposite shoulder. —Gerard Hartmann, Outside, 3 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from New Latin, going back to Late Latin, "conductor," from Latin addūcere "to lead or bring (to a place)" + -tor, agent suffix — more at adduce

First Known Use

1615, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

adductor

noun

ad·​duc·​tor ə-ˈdək-tər 

: a muscle that draws a body part (as an arm or finger) toward or past a plane or a line that divides the body or a hand or foot into right and left halves

Medical Definition

adductor

noun

ad·​duc·​tor -ˈdək-tər 

1

: any of three powerful triangular muscles that contribute to the adduction of the human thigh:

a

: one arising from the superior ramus of the pubis and inserted into the middle third of the linea aspera

called also adductor longus

b

: one arising from the inferior ramus of the pubis and inserted into the iliopectineal line and the upper part of the linea aspera

called also adductor brevis

c

: one arising from the inferior ramus of the pubis and the ischium and inserted behind the first two into the linea aspera

called also adductor magnus

2

: any of several muscles other than the adductors of the thigh that draw a part toward the median line of the body or toward the axis of an extremity