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

Titanium posts will be inserted into his jawbone, serving as new roots for the teeth.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 23, 2026

An eardrum positioned within a curved section of the jawbone would have allowed Thrinaxodon to hear airborne sounds far more effectively than relying on bone conduction alone.

From Science Daily • Jan. 19, 2026

The jawbone of the ancient reptile was unearthed in Arizona back in 2011, but modern scanning techniques have now revealed details showing that it belongs to a species new to science.

From BBC • Jul. 7, 2025

His tightly curling hair was cut short, and he had a narrow, short beard along his jawbone.

From "Homecoming" by Cynthia Voigt

Related Words

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