fibula

noun

fib·u·la ˈfi-byə-lə

plural fibulae ˈfi-byə-lē -lī or fibulas

: the outer and usually smaller of the two bones between the knee and ankle in the hind or lower limbs of vertebrates

: a clasp resembling a safety pin used especially by the ancient Greeks and Romans

fibular

ˈfi-byə-lər

adjective

Examples of fibula 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.

Tingley broke both the tibia and fibula in his left leg and the original timeline was not promising. — Steve Millar, Chicago Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026 Johnson and her husband Justin, 37, have a 1-year-old son who was born with only a sliver of a fibula. — Amy Eskind, PEOPLE, 11 June 2026 Smith suffered a broken right leg and a fractured fibula that kept him out for just three games at the start of his redshirt sophomore season in 2010. — Devon Henderson, New York Times, 13 June 2026 In addition to a torn ACL and various tibia and fibula fractures, Vonn also broke her right ankle. — Mia Fishman, CNN Money, 23 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for fibula

Word History

Etymology

Latin, pin, clasp; akin to Latin figere to fasten

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler

The first known use of fibula was in 1578

See more words from the same year

Browse Nearby Words

fibster

fibula

fibular

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Cite this Entry

Style

“Fibula.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fibula. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

fibula

noun

fib·u·la ˈfib-yə-lə

plural fibulae -ˌlē

-ˌlī

or fibulas

: the outer and usually the smaller of the two bones between the knee and ankle of the hind or lower limb

fibular

-lər

adjective

Medical Definition

fibula

noun

fib·u·la ˈfib-yə-lə

plural fibulae

-lē also -ˌlī

or fibulas

: the outer or postaxial and usually the smaller of the two bones of the hind or lower limb below the knee that is the slenderest bone of the human body in proportion to its length, articulates above with the external tuberosity of the tibia and below with the talus, and has its lower end forming the external malleolus of the ankle

called also calf bone

fibular

-lər

adjective

fibula

noun

Illustration of fibula

Examples of fibula in a Sentence

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Medical Definition

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