ligament

noun

lig·​a·​ment ˈli-gə-mənt How to pronounce ligament (audio)
1
: a tough fibrous band of tissue connecting the articular extremities of bones or supporting an organ in place
2
: a connecting or unifying bond
the law of nations, the great ligament of mankindEdmund Burke
ligamentous adjective

Examples of ligament in a Sentence

He sprained ligaments in his knee.
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.
Specific injuries, like muscle strains, can affect the ligaments in your spine and cause back pain. Jennifer Steinhoff, Verywell Health, 22 Oct. 2024 Freeman likely suffered a Grade 2 tear of the ligament last month. Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 19 Oct. 2024 Fans call for Valenzuela statue at Dodger Stadium Nov. 1, 2024 His promising 2022 season with the Dodgers ended in June because of a torn ligament in his left knee. Mike Digiovanna, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2024 The next year, Embiid tore a ligament in his right thumb and had a concussion and orbital fracture during the postseason. Tim Casey, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for ligament 

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Medieval Latin & Latin; Medieval Latin ligamentum, from Latin, band, tie, from ligare

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ligament was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near ligament

Cite this Entry

“Ligament.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ligament. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

ligament

noun
lig·​a·​ment ˈlig-ə-mənt How to pronounce ligament (audio)
: a tough band of tissue that holds bones together or keeps an organ in place in the body
Etymology

Middle English ligament "connecting tissue, ligament," derived from Latin ligamentum "band, something used for tying," from ligare "to bind, tie" — related to ally

Medical Definition

ligament

noun
lig·​a·​ment ˈlig-ə-mənt How to pronounce ligament (audio)
1
: a tough band of tissue that serves to connect the articular extremities of bones or to support or retain an organ in place and is usually composed of coarse bundles of dense white fibrous tissue parallel or closely interlaced, pliant, and flexible, but not extensible
2
: any of various folds or bands of pleura, peritoneum, or mesentery connecting parts or organs

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