clavicle

American  

[klav-i-kuhl] / ˈklæv ɪ kəl /

noun

Anatomy, Zoology.

• clavicles
  plural

1. a bone of the pectoral arch.

2. (in humans) either of two slender bones, each articulating with the sternum and a scapula and forming the anterior part of a shoulder; collarbone.

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clavicle British  

/ ˈklævɪkəl /

noun

1. Nontechnical name: collarbone. either of the two bones connecting the shoulder blades with the upper part of the breastbone

2. the corresponding structure in other vertebrates

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clavicle Scientific  

/ klăv′ĭ-kəl /

1. Either of two slender bones that extend from the upper part of the sternum (breastbone) to the shoulder.

2. Also called collarbone

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• clavicular
  adjective
• claviculate
  adjective
• subclavicular
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• clavicles
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of clavicle

1605–15; < Medieval Latin clāvicula collarbone, Latin: tendril, door-bolt, little key, equivalent to clāvi ( s ) key + -cula -cule ¹

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Explanation

The clavicle, more commonly known as the collarbone, connects your shoulder blade to you sternum. The clavicle is the only long horizontal bone in the body (all the other long bones are vertical, such as those in the arms and legs). It evolved to provide a structural support for the arms, and also to serve as protection around blood vessels and nerves in that part of the body. The clavicles of birds are Y-shaped and, on a holiday turkey, are also called the "wishbone."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

clavicle clavicles

From Ossoff, he learned how to braid in being an intellectual and polished orator, how debate-club tactics can work as long as you eschew the tie and show an inch of clavicle.

From Slate ● Oct. 27, 2026

On the three-year weekly chart, the stock appears to be carving out what could become the right clavicle of a larger bearish head-and-shoulders formation.

From Barron's ● Jun. 5, 2026

"Barrie McDermott dived on top of me and I popped my clavicle joint," Davies recalls.

From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2025

Witherspoon, who suffered a broken clavicle during the Rams’ victory over the Tennessee Titans last Sunday, is expected to be sidelined for 12 weeks, McVay said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2025

I could feel the warmth of her hand through my damp shirt, could feel her fingers resting lightly on my clavicle.

From "Anthem of a Reluctant Prophet" by Joanne Proulx

The courtroom had to be evacuated at the precise moment when sleepy jurors’ chins were dropping toward their clavicles, notwithstanding the riveting testimony of FBI automotive forensic specialist Dwight Falkofske.

From Washington Post ● Feb. 10, 2023

For example, a fall with the arms outstretched causes the force to be transmitted to the clavicles, which can break if the force is excessive.

From Textbooks ● Jun. 9, 2022

If the ending of this book does not leave you with tears pooling down in your clavicles, you are a stronger person than I am.

From New York Times ● Mar. 4, 2019

Recently Vogue declared the cleavage was “over”, noting that celebrities were binning off their deep V gowns, choosing fashion that showcased their clavicles instead.

From The Guardian ● Jan. 15, 2017

The shape of the anterior extremity of the sternum is influenced by the presence or absence of clavicles.

From Artistic Anatomy of Animals by ?douard Cuyer

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