: an early symptom of tetanus characterized by spasm of the jaw muscles and inability to open the jaws
also
: tetanus
Examples of lockjaw in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Difficulty chewing and swallowing due to lockjaw increases the risk of aspiration.
—
Mark Gurarie, Health, 22 Aug. 2025
Sometimes called lockjaw because an early symptom is muscle pain and spasms in the jaw, tetanus is caused by toxins from a bacterium.
—Jen Christiansen, Scientific American, 25 June 2025
Tetanus is a potentially deadly bacterial infection that can enter the body through a scrape or cut and causes severe, painful muscle spasms, including in the neck and jaw, which is why it’s commonly called lockjaw.
—Melissa Dahl, NBC News, 22 Feb. 2025
And The Golden Key goes to … Rachel, who gave herself lockjaw before the Fantasy Suites by jumping into a cenote and hitting her head?
—Ali Barthwell, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2024
Radziwill was also in the process of producing a documentary about her childhood memories at Lasata and hoping her eccentric aunt, with her Long Island lockjaw and beautiful singing voice, would narrate the film.
—Hadley Mendelsohn, House Beautiful, 24 Aug. 2022
As long as one of them doesn't get lockjaw first.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 15 Sep. 2021
The crushing muscles of mastication clamp down to form the hallmark of the disease, lockjaw.
—Rebecca Kreston, Discover Magazine, 29 Sep. 2015
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Mark Gurarie, Health, 22 Aug. 2025
Sometimes called lockjaw because an early symptom is muscle pain and spasms in the jaw, tetanus is caused by toxins from a bacterium.
—Jen Christiansen, Scientific American, 25 June 2025
Tetanus is a potentially deadly bacterial infection that can enter the body through a scrape or cut and causes severe, painful muscle spasms, including in the neck and jaw, which is why it’s commonly called lockjaw.
—Melissa Dahl, NBC News, 22 Feb. 2025
And The Golden Key goes to … Rachel, who gave herself lockjaw before the Fantasy Suites by jumping into a cenote and hitting her head?
—Ali Barthwell, Vulture, 12 Mar. 2024
Radziwill was also in the process of producing a documentary about her childhood memories at Lasata and hoping her eccentric aunt, with her Long Island lockjaw and beautiful singing voice, would narrate the film.
—Hadley Mendelsohn, House Beautiful, 24 Aug. 2022
As long as one of them doesn't get lockjaw first.
—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 15 Sep. 2021
The crushing muscles of mastication clamp down to form the hallmark of the disease, lockjaw.
—Rebecca Kreston, Discover Magazine, 29 Sep. 2015
Cite this Entry
“Lockjaw.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/lockjaw. Accessed 3 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
lockjaw
noun
lock·jaw
ˈläk-ˌjȯ 
: a symptom of tetanus marked by spasms of the jaw muscles and inability to open the jaws
also
: tetanus sense 1
Medical Definition
lockjaw
noun
lock·jaw
ˈläk-ˌjȯ
: an early symptom of tetanus characterized by spasm of the jaw muscles and inability to open the jaws
also
: tetanus sense 1a
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