fibula

American  

[fib-yuh-luh] / ˈfɪb yə lə /

noun

plural

fibulae, fibulas

1. Anatomy. the outer and thinner of the two bones of the human leg, extending from the knee to the ankle.

2. Zoology. a corresponding bone, often rudimentary or ankylosed with the tibia, of the leg or hind limb of an animal.

3. a clasp or brooch, often ornamented, used by the ancient Greeks and Romans.

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fibula British  

/ ˈfɪbjʊlə /

noun

1. the outer and thinner of the two bones between the knee and ankle of the human leg Compare tibia

2. the corresponding bone in other vertebrates

3. a metal brooch resembling a safety pin, often highly decorated, common in Europe after 1300 _bc

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fibula Scientific  

/ fĭb′yə-lə /

plural

fibulae

1. The smaller of the two bones of the lower leg or lower portion of the hind leg.

2. See more at skeleton

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Other Word Forms

• fibular adjective

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

How does fibula compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• tibia vs. fibula

Example Sentences

Isak is recovering from an operation on an ankle injury that included a fibula fracture, which has wrecked his first season on Merseyside.

From Barron's • Jan. 30, 2026

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

When Loyola High defensive lineman Andrew Hilton broke his fibula and suffered ligament damage to his ankle during the opening week of football practice last August, things looked bleak.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 12, 2025

He didn't know it at the time, but Tom, 37, had broken his fibula and badly damaged his ankle ligaments.

From BBC • Aug. 7, 2025

An infection spiked up and he was rushed to the emergency room downtown where a two-inch section of his tibia and fibula was removed.

From "Hole in My Life" by Jack Gantos