metatarsal

1 of 2

adjective

meta·​tar·​sal ˌme-tə-ˈtär-səl How to pronounce metatarsal (audio)
: of, relating to, or being the part of the human foot or of the hind foot in quadrupeds between the tarsus and the phalanges that in humans comprises five elongated bones which form the front of the instep and ball of the foot

metatarsal

2 of 2

noun

: a metatarsal bone

Examples of metatarsal 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.
Adjective
The surgery was meant to repair the fifth metatarsal bone in Bland’s foot. — Sportsday Staff, Dallas Morning News, 13 Jan. 2026 They can be added to a shoe as an extension of the tongue that reaches the toe box for metatarsal protection. — Bestreviews, Mercury News, 10 Dec. 2025
Noun
All the joints were crushed, the three inner metatarsals are all plates and pins in my foot. — Outside Online, 11 Feb. 2026 All of this puts intense pressure on the balls of the feet—otherwise known as the metatarsals. — Malissa Rodenburg, SELF, 13 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for metatarsal

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1703, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1702, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of metatarsal was in 1702

Rhymes for metatarsal

See All Rhymes for metatarsal

Browse Nearby Words

metasyndesis
metatarsal
metatarsale
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

metatarsal

1 of 2 adjective
meta·​tar·​sal ˌmet-ə-ˈtär-səl How to pronounce metatarsal (audio)
: of, relating to, or being the part of the foot in human beings or of the hind foot in a four-footed animal that is located between the tarsal bones and the toes

metatarsal

2 of 2 noun
: any of the metatarsal bones of which there are five in human beings

Medical Definition

metatarsal

1 of 2 adjective
meta·​tar·​sal ˌmet-ə-ˈtär-səl How to pronounce metatarsal (audio)
: of, relating to, or being the part of the human foot or of the hind foot in quadrupeds between the tarsus and the phalanges that in humans comprises five elongated bones which form the front of the instep and ball of the foot

metatarsal

2 of 2 noun
: a metatarsal bone

More from Merriam-Webster on metatarsal

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about metatarsal

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

One-Word Oxymorons: Bittersweet, Spendthrift, and More

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World
See More

Popular

See More

Is that lie 'bald-faced' or 'bold-faced'?

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
hangman letters and game
Hangman Lightning Round Figure out which word fits in the blanks.
See All