fibula
Americannoun
plural
fibulae, fibulas-
Anatomy. the outer and thinner of the two bones of the human leg, extending from the knee to the ankle.
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Zoology. a corresponding bone, often rudimentary or ankylosed with the tibia, of the leg or hind limb of an animal.
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a clasp or brooch, often ornamented, used by the ancient Greeks and Romans.
noun
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the outer and thinner of the two bones between the knee and ankle of the human leg Compare tibia
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the corresponding bone in other vertebrates
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a metal brooch resembling a safety pin, often highly decorated, common in Europe after 1300 bc
plural
fibulae-
The smaller of the two bones of the lower leg or lower portion of the hind leg.
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See more at skeleton
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of fibula
1665–75; < New Latin; Latin fībula bolt, pin, clasp, probably < *fīvibula, equivalent to fīv ( ere ), early form of fīgere to fasten, fix + -i- -i- + -bula suffix denoting instrument; the bone so called from its resemblance to the tongue of a clasp
Compare meaning
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Vocabulary lists containing fibula
Human Anatomy and Physiology - High School
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Human Anatomy and Physiology - Middle School
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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.
Liverpool striker Alexander Isak faces a lengthy spell on the sidelines after the Premier League champions revealed he had surgery on an ankle injury that includes a fibula fracture on Monday.
From Barron's • Dec. 22, 2025
Liverpool said the 26-year-old "successfully underwent surgery" on an "ankle injury that included a fibula fracture".
From BBC • Dec. 22, 2025
A statement from the Royal Spanish Football Federation said that "following tests carried out by the medical services" Bonmati was "diagnosed with a fracture in her left fibula".
From BBC • Nov. 30, 2025
Throughout his career, Ovechkin largely dodged serious injury until last November, when he fractured his fibula after getting clipped in the leg by an opposing defender.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 7, 2025
I learned that the bones in the leg are the femur, the tibia, the patella, and the fibula.
From "Out of My Mind" by Sharon M. Draper
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.
