ligament
Americannoun
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Anatomy, Zoology. a band of tissue, usually white and fibrous, serving to connect bones, hold organs in place, etc.
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a tie or bond.
The desire for personal freedom is a ligament uniting all peoples.
noun
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anatomy any one of the bands or sheets of tough fibrous connective tissue that restrict movement in joints, connect various bones or cartilages, support muscles, etc
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any physical or abstract connection or bond
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of ligament
1375–1425; late Middle English < Medieval Latin ligāmentum, Latin: bandage, equivalent to ligā ( re ) to tie + -mentum -ment
Compare meaning
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Explanation
A ligament is the tissue that connects two bones to form a joint. It's tough and fibrous, which means that when it tears, a ligament can take quite a while to heal and might even require surgery. Ligament comes from the Latin ligare meaning "to bind, tie," which is precisely what a ligament does. Ligaments only connect bones to bones. Ligaments allow for range of motion. Think of how your knee or elbow is able to move up and down like a hinge. That's thanks to the ligaments connecting the bones to form knee and elbow joints. Over time, ligaments gradually stretch. If you've ever met someone who is "double-jointed" that means their ligaments are extra elastic, which lets them stretch more than the average person.
Vocabulary lists containing ligament
Human Anatomy and Physiology - Introductory
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Before the Ever After
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Human Anatomy and Physiology - High School
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Although the regenerated tissues were not exact matches to the original anatomy, the researchers successfully restored all of the major structures that had been removed during amputation, including bone, tendon, ligament, and joint tissue.
From Science Daily • Jun. 17, 2026
Surgery to repair ligament damage in the elbow is scary for any pitcher, young or old.
From Los Angeles Times • May 30, 2026
The position had become a potential worry for manager Arteta with his other natural option Ben White ruled out with a knee ligament injury.
From BBC • May 29, 2026
Elbow ligament reconstruction, the revolutionary procedure named for former All-Star Tommy John, has practically become a rite of passage for young pitchers.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 26, 2026
The doctor had put in a replacement ligament, but it was hard to construct one that could handle the natural stress caused by the constant starting and stopping of running with the football.
From "Friday Night Lights: A Town, A Team, And A Dream" by H.G. Bissinger
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
