jawbone

American  

[jaw-bohn] / ˈdʒɔˌboʊn /

noun

1. a bone of either jaw; a maxilla or mandible.

2. the bone of the lower jaw; mandible.

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verb (used with or without object)

jawboned, jawboning

1. Informal. to attempt to influence or pressure by persuasion rather than by the exertion of force or one's authority, as in urging voluntary compliance with economic guidelines.

   The president jawboned the steel industry into postponing price increases.

adjective

1. Informal. obtained by or resorting to such a practice.

   jawbone controls.

jawbone British  

/ ˈdʒɔːˌbəʊn /

noun

1. a nontechnical name for mandible maxilla

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verb

1. to try to persuade or bring pressure to bear (on) by virtue of one's high office or position, esp in urging compliance with official policy

Other Word Forms

• jawboning noun

Etymology

Origin of jawbone

First recorded in 1480–90; jaw ¹ + bone

Example Sentences

A fragment of a jawbone found deep underground in a cave in Somerset has rewritten the story of when and how dogs became our best friends.

From BBC • Mar. 25, 2026

Forensic genealogists solve a 21-year-old case, linking a jawbone to a U.S.

From Los Angeles Times • May 20, 2024

A jawbone found in a child’s rock collection in Arizona more than two decades ago belonged to a Marine who died in California in 1951 and was buried in Missouri, the authorities said on Friday.

From New York Times • Apr. 21, 2024

Trawling the beach with his wife Carol, he saw what turned out to be the find of a lifetime - the first known jawbone of this giant, marine reptile.

From BBC • Apr. 17, 2024

Her dark hair is tied in a ragged lace handkerchief, and her curved jawbone is fit with large, false-pearl earrings, as if these headlamps from another world might show the way.

From "The Poisonwood Bible" by Barbara Kingsolver

Related Words

• admonish
• berate
• castigate
• censure
• chide
• go after
• oppose
• reprimand
• reproach
• scold
• upbraid