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

But he also "ripped his groin" in United's FA Cup tie at Shrewsbury in February 2016.

From BBC ● Jul. 15, 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

“Yeah, it for sure felt like that. I think my knee bothering me helped my groins too,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 22, 2024

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

Human intervention in beach processes, like jetties and groins, have negative consequences that need to be mitigated.

From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2017

The richness given this central and most correct portion of the great roofing is all the more effective by contrast with the plain, unelaborated groins of the surrounding vaults.

From Cathedrals of Spain by John A.