groin

American  

[groin] / grɔɪn /

noun

• groins
  plural

1. Anatomy. the fold or hollow on either side of the front of the body where the thigh joins the abdomen.

2. the general region of this fold or hollow.

3. Architecture. the curved line or edge formed by the intersection of two vaults.

4. Also groyne a small jetty extending from a shore to prevent beach erosion.

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verb (used with object)

1. Architecture. to form with groins.

groin British  

/ ɡrɔɪn /

noun

1. the depression or fold where the legs join the abdomen

2. euphemistic the genitals, esp the testicles

3. a variant spelling (esp US) of groyne

4. architect a curved arris formed where two intersecting vaults meet

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verb

1. (tr) architect to provide or construct with groins

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• ungroined
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• groins
  plural

Etymology

Origin of groin

1350–1400; earlier grine, Middle English grinde; compare Old English grynde “abyss,” akin to grund “bottom, ground ¹ ”

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

groin groins

“In just two games, I got hit in the face, groin, shin, foot, hand and head,” he says, counting up his bruises.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

It often affects skin between the fingers, around the wrists, under the arms and around the waist, groin and bottom.

From BBC ● Jul. 10, 2026

Both address bad valves without open-heart surgery, typically by going in through the femoral artery in the groin.

From Barron's ● Jun. 5, 2026

Last year, Hernández played in just one rehab game returning from a strained groin.

From Los Angeles Times ● May 30, 2026

Loki shot through the air, clutching at his groin, and landed smack in Skadi’s lap, whimpering and broken.

From "Norse Mythology" by Neil Gaiman

NOTES: DBs Lonnie Johnson and Elijah Molden both did not practice due to injured groins.

From Seattle Times ● Sep. 7, 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

Green conquerors from overhead Bestrode the bodies of their dead; The Caesars of the silvan field, Unused to fail, foredoomed to yield: 252 For in the groins of branches, lo!

From The Works of Robert Louis Stevenson - Swanston Edition Vol. 14 (of 25) by Robert Louis Stevenson