hamate

noun

ha·​mate ˈhā-ˌmāt How to pronounce hamate (audio)
: a bone on the inner side of the second row of the carpus in mammals

Examples of hamate in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Carroll broke his right (non-throwing) hand hamate bone and underwent surgery. Derek Vanriper, New York Times, 18 Feb. 2026 Blake Mitchell was also back after breaking his right hamate bone in camp last year. Kansas City Star, 17 Feb. 2026 Anthony will replace Arizona’s Corbin Carroll, who suffered a broken hamate bone that will keep him out of action for several weeks. Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 16 Feb. 2026 Wyatt Langford was reportedly in the mix as a possible injury replacement for Arizona’s Corbin Carroll, who fractured the hamate bone in his hand at spring training, but Team USA has instead opted for Boston’s Roman Anthony, according to a report from the Boston Globe. Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 13 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for hamate

Word History

Etymology

Latin hamatus hooked, from hamus hook

First Known Use

1924, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hamate was in 1924

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hamate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hamate. Accessed 24 Feb. 2026.

Medical Definition

hamate

1 of 2 adjective
ha·​mate
ˈhā-ˌmāt also ˈham-ət
: shaped like a hook

hamate

2 of 2 noun
variants or hamate bone
: a bone on the little-finger side of the second row of the carpus in mammals

called also unciform, unciform bone

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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