metatarsal

American  

[met-uh-tahr-suhl] / ˌmɛt əˈtɑr səl /

adjective

1. of or relating to the metatarsus, the part of the foot that includes the bones between the ankle and toes.

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noun

1. a bone in the metatarsus.

metatarsal British  

/ ˌmɛtəˈtɑːsəl /

adjective

1. of or relating to the metatarsus

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noun

1. any bone of the metatarsus

metatarsal Scientific  

/ mĕt′ə-tär′səl /

1. Any of the bones of the feet in humans or the back feet in animals that are located between the tarsal bones and the phalanges.

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Other Word Forms

• intermetatarsal adjective
• metatarsally adverb

Etymology

Origin of metatarsal

First recorded in 1730–40; meta- + tarsal

Example Sentences

For each species, the team used existing estimates of body weight along with measurements of the fourth metatarsal.

From Science Daily • Jan. 23, 2026

He flexes his metatarsal bones to indicate where he wants a subordinate to sit.

From Salon • Aug. 31, 2025

Madrid said exams showed that the France player has “an incomplete stress fracture in the second metatarsal of the left foot.”

From Washington Times • Oct. 29, 2023

It was perhaps understandable but England's captain never looked fully fit despite recovering from a broken metatarsal in time for the World Cup in Japan in 2002.

From BBC • Oct. 13, 2023

He would disappear into that day, fractured fifth metatarsal and all.

From "Pax" by Sara Pennypacker