clavicle

American  

[klav-i-kuhl] / ˈklæv ɪ kəl /

noun

Anatomy, Zoology.

clavicles plural

1. a bone of the pectoral arch.

2. (in humans) either of two slender bones, each articulating with the sternum and a scapula and forming the anterior part of a shoulder; collarbone.

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clavicle British  

/ kləˈvɪkjʊlə, kləˈvɪkjʊˌleɪt, ˈklævɪkəl /

noun

1. Nontechnical name: collarbone.  either of the two bones connecting the shoulder blades with the upper part of the breastbone

2. the corresponding structure in other vertebrates

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clavicle Scientific  

/ klăv′ĭ-kəl /

1. Either of two slender bones that extend from the upper part of the sternum (breastbone) to the shoulder.

2. Also called collarbone

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• clavicular
  adjective
• claviculate
  adjective
• subclavicular
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• clavicles
  plural

Etymology

Origin of clavicle

1605–15; < Medieval Latin clāvicula collarbone, Latin: tendril, door-bolt, little key, equivalent to clāvi ( s ) key + -cula -cule ¹

Explanation

The clavicle, more commonly known as the collarbone, connects your shoulder blade to you sternum. The clavicle is the only long horizontal bone in the body (all the other long bones are vertical, such as those in the arms and legs). It evolved to provide a structural support for the arms, and also to serve as protection around blood vessels and nerves in that part of the body. The clavicles of birds are Y-shaped and, on a holiday turkey, are also called the "wishbone."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

clavicle clavicles

On the three-year weekly chart, the stock appears to be carving out what could become the right clavicle of a larger bearish head-and-shoulders formation.

From Barron's ● Jun. 5, 2026

Witherspoon, who suffered a broken clavicle during the Rams’ victory over the Tennessee Titans last Sunday, is expected to be sidelined for 12 weeks, McVay said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2025

Mr Warburton sustained a dislocated right hip and a displaced clavicle.

From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2025

In the season’s sixth game, Burakovsky broke his clavicle when shoved off-balance into the boards by notorious New York Rangers “hit” man Jacob Trouba — again without the Kraken responding.

From Seattle Times ● Apr. 27, 2024

I could feel the warmth of her hand through my damp shirt, could feel her fingers resting lightly on my clavicle.

From "Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet" by Joanne Proulx

Two left feet, two left clavicles, two left everything.

From Washington Post ● Feb. 23, 2023

All of the bones of the body, except for the flat bones of the skull, mandible, and clavicles, are formed through endochondral ossification.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

If the ending of this book does not leave you with tears pooling down in your clavicles, you are a stronger person than I am.

From New York Times ● Mar. 4, 2019

If you ever find yourself adrift in the aforementioned space time continuum and needing to find your way back to 2016, you can reorientate yourself by following the clavicles.

From The Guardian ● Dec. 13, 2016

Among most of the lower vertebrata, such as Amphibians and Reptiles, the girdle is a double arch—the arch of the collar bone or clavicles in front, and the arch of the shoulder-blade or scapula behind.

From Dragons of the Air An Account of Extinct Flying Reptiles by Seeley, H. G.