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
Etymology
Origin of ligament
1375–1425; late Middle English < Medieval Latin ligāmentum, Latin: bandage, equivalent to ligā ( re ) to tie + -mentum -ment
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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.
Charlisse Leger-Walker, a transfer from Washington State, spent the year on the sideline recovering from an anterior cruciate ligament injury.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 4, 2026
I’ve had sports injuries over the years, and it felt like that—a torn ligament, maybe.
From Slate • Mar. 29, 2026
He has featured in 18 Premier League games this season after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament in 2024.
From BBC • Mar. 26, 2026
Dear God, let that not be a ligament or tendon I need to run.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 1, 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
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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.