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.
Wednesday’s procedure repaired a broken hamate bone in his left wrist. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 17 July 2025 Mitchell is coming back from a broken right hamate bone in his hand, an injury sustained during spring training. Jaylon Thompson, Kansas City Star, 19 June 2025 The hamate bone in his left wrist had broken cleanly in two. Christopher Kamrani, New York Times, 8 July 2025 Through April, when Torrens filled in admirably while Alvarez was on the injured list with a broken hamate bone, the veteran backstop delivered a respectable .712 OPS from a position the Mets shouldn’t need much offense from, at least in theory. Will Sammon, New York Times, 22 June 2025 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 20 Aug. 2025.

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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