cheekbone
Americannoun
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the zygomatic bone.
-
the part of that bone below the eye forming the prominence of the cheek.
-
the area of the cheek overlying this bone.
noun
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of cheekbone
before 1000; Middle English chekbon, Old English ceacban. See cheek, bone ( def. )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Its skull shows that these early snakes still had a cheekbone, also called the jugal bone, a feature that has almost completely disappeared in living snakes.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 24, 2026
Stokes is recovering from a broken cheekbone, suffered when he was hit by a ball while coaching Durham's academy players in early February.
From BBC ● Apr. 14, 2026
In just two minutes, the movie had delivered everything it promised: a snorting monkey, a sucker in a flowered shirt, a shot of an ominous tire swing and a closeup of a peeled cheekbone.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 9, 2026
Edwards dislocated his left ring finger after his hand collided with Collins’ cheekbone.
From Seattle Times ● Mar. 18, 2024
The color had come back to her cheeks, but where it had been a delicate flush before, it was now a small fierce spot on each cheekbone.
From "The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage" by Philip Pullman
The dinosaur had large cheekbones, a broad braincase, and likely a short, deep snout.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 15, 2026
With cheekbones like his, the “Best Actor” hopeful had nowhere to go but down.
From Slate ● Mar. 13, 2026
I have high cheekbones, a sharp jaw, outstanding skin.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 30, 2025
"Lighting definitely plays a role - it can bring out cheekbones, collarbones, and ribcages," Ms Howard said.
From BBC ● Aug. 8, 2025
It whips my dark hair around my shoulders, the strands lashing against my cheekbones.
From "The Sea in Winter" by Christine Day
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
