wrist

American  

[rist] / rɪst /

noun

• wrists
  plural

1. the carpus or lower part of the forearm where it joins the hand.

2. the joint or articulation between the forearm and the hand.

3. the part of an article of clothing that fits around the wrist.

4. Machinery. wrist pin.

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wrist British  

/ rɪst /

noun

1. Technical name: carpus.  anatomy the joint between the forearm and the hand

2. the part of a sleeve or glove that covers the wrist

3. machinery

   1. See wrist pin

   2. a joint in which a wrist pin forms the pivot

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wrist Idioms  

1. see slap on the wrist.

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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• wrists
  plural

Etymology

Origin of wrist

before 950; Middle English, Old English; cognate with German Rist back of hand, Old Norse rist instep; akin to writhe

Explanation

Your wrist is the joint between your arm and your hand. Without your wrists, it would be hard to play tennis — or even to wave goodbye to your friends. The wrist is a complicated joint that allows you to bend and rotate your hand in many different directions. The entire wrist area includes so many bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments that it's fairly easy to injure. Carpal tunnel syndrome is one common injury that's caused by repeated motion of the wrist. The word wrist stems from the German Rist, "back of the hand," and a root meaning "to turn or bend."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

wrist wrists

That wrist is how Alcaraz sculpts that spectacular drop shot that makes opponents quiver at the knees and would make Harry Hopman cry.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026

He held for 5-4 to force Fritz to serve it out, the American's chance delayed just slightly as Jodar had treatment on his left wrist after taking a tumble in the ninth game.

From Barron's ● Aug. 3, 2026

At the Azteca, England's Jordan Henderson managed to get himself booked and then suffer a freak arm and wrist injury - all despite having not even played.

From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026

Throughout both phases, participants wore wrist monitors that tracked sleep and physical activity.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 13, 2026

He held her wrist and put his ear to her chest.

From Each Little Bird That Sings by Deborah Wiles

His emotions — and that sticky goo in his wrists — are about to burst.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2026

Some of its 2,000 contributors perform tasks with motion-sensor bands on their "wrists, hands and legs", CEO Thaslim Pattan said.

From Barron's ● Jun. 11, 2026

Its hands – still a major robotics challenge – lack strength and dexterity, and it has no proper wrists yet.

From BBC ● Jun. 8, 2026

He was paraded through Heathrow Airport with his wrists in shackles, and escorted onto a plane by two FBI agents.

From Slate ● Apr. 19, 2026

Boaz jerkily rose to his feet, and after a moment’s thought, Ashmodai conjured a rope between them, tethering them together by the wrists, with only a yard of slack.

From "Night Owls" by A.R. Vishny