1
: the inner and usually larger of the two bones of the vertebrate hind or lower limb between the knee and ankle
2
: the fourth joint of the leg of an insect between the femur and tarsus

Examples of tibia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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The most recent of those was a tibia stress fracture in the summer of 2024. — Liam Tharme, New York Times, 26 Oct. 2026 Lechner was a member of the 75th Rangers in Somalia and suffered a gruesome gunshot wound to his tibia. — David Hookstead Outkick, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026 Three in the forelegs (the humerus, radius, and ulna) and two in the hind legs (femur and tibia). — Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 14 Oct. 2026 Two thicker cartilage crescents — the menisci — cushion the space between the femur and tibia. — Aaron Steckelberg, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for tibia

Word History

Etymology

Latin

First Known Use

circa 1706, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of tibia was circa 1706

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Cite this Entry

“Tibia.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/tibia. Accessed 1 Nov. 2026.

Kids Definition

plural tibiae -ē-ˌē How to pronounce tibia (audio)
-ē-ˌī
also tibias
1
: the inner and usually larger of the two bones of the vertebrate leg that is located between the knee and the ankle

called also shinbone

2
: the fourth joint of the leg of an insect between the femur and the tarsus

Medical Definition

: the inner and usually larger of the two bones of the leg between the knee and ankle that articulates above with the femur and below with the talus

called also shinbone

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