groin
Americannoun
-
groins
plural
-
Anatomy. the fold or hollow on either side of the front of the body where the thigh joins the abdomen.
-
the general region of this fold or hollow.
-
Architecture. the curved line or edge formed by the intersection of two vaults.
-
Also groyne a small jetty extending from a shore to prevent beach erosion.
verb (used with object)
noun
-
the depression or fold where the legs join the abdomen
-
euphemistic the genitals, esp the testicles
-
a variant spelling (esp US) of groyne
-
architect a curved arris formed where two intersecting vaults meet
verb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of groin
1350–1400; earlier grine, Middle English grinde; compare Old English grynde “abyss,” akin to grund “bottom, ground 1 ”
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:
Could the left groin tightness that chased Blake Snell from his last start after an inning linger into the postseason?
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 19, 2026
Females have striking coloration around the groin and thighs, where orange or light blue tones can appear alongside black spots.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 5, 2026
Sarr, 28, has yet to feature for Palace this season, missing Premier League defeats at Everton and home to Manchester City with a groin injury.
From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026
Jurrien Timber, Arsenal's first-choice right-back, is also out for the opening weeks of the season with a groin problem that caused him to pull out of the Netherlands World Cup squad.
From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026
This one made a brown streak against the stones, while Joffrey's hurried shot almost took Ser Preston in the groin.
From "A Clash of Kings" by George R.R. Martin
“The shot blocking, the groins, the hips, the cuts, the bruises, playing every second night: That’s the toll,” coach Jon Cooper said Sunday.
From Seattle Times ● Jun. 19, 2022
The Army Corps of Engineers, which began the Rockaway resiliency project in 2020, is installing stone structures called groins — similar to rock jetties — into the ocean to fortify sand along the beach.
From New York Times ● May 29, 2022
The Giants and Dodgers have a rich and colorful sports rivalry featuring bats thrown at heads, balls to groins and an impressive bounty of World Series trophies.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2021
One by one, the men agreed to tell their stories to The Associated Press and to have the extensive scars on their legs, chests and groins photographed in July and August.
From Washington Times ● Nov. 8, 2017
Frequently there are no ribs of any sort to the groins of the vaults.
From Architecture Gothic and Renaissance by T. Roger (Thomas Roger) Smith
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.
