femur

[ fee-mer ]

noun

plural femurs, femora [fem, -er-, uh].

1. Anatomy. a bone in the human leg extending from the pelvis to the knee, that is the longest, largest, and strongest in the body; thighbone.
2. Zoology. a corresponding bone of the leg or hind limb of an animal.
3. Entomology. the third segment of the leg of an insect (counting from the base), situated between the trochanter and the tibia.

femur

/ ˈfiːmə /

noun

1. the longest thickest bone of the human skeleton, articulating with the pelvis above and the knee below Nontechnical namethighbone
2. the corresponding bone in other vertebrates
3. the segment of an insect's leg nearest to the body

femur

/ fē′mər /

1. The long bone of the thigh or of the upper portion of the hind leg.
2. See more at skeleton

Word History and Origins

Origin of femur¹

1555–65; < Latin: thigh

Word History and Origins

Origin of femur¹

C18: from Latin: thigh

Example Sentences

She was not injured and he needed medical attention for a broken femur, according to the family’s GoFundMe account.

From Los Angeles Times

Elise, 50, is terminally ill after breast cancer spread to other parts of her body, including her bones - her femur had to be replaced by a metal rod after it was rotted by cancerous cells.

From BBC

“Their father is currently undergoing surgery for a broken femur and will be unable to work until completely healed,” wrote organizer Ciara Yanez.

From Los Angeles Times

The pain is worst in her thigh, where she had a metal rod inserted after cancer rotted her femur.

From BBC

The cause of death was determined as pneumonia in a man suffering from a fractured femur, generalised vascular disease and prostate cancer.

From BBC

Related Words

• groin