stress fracture

American

noun

Pathology.

a hairline crack in a bone, especially of a foot or leg, caused by repeated or prolonged stress and often occurring in runners, dancers, and soldiers march fracture.

stress fracture Scientific

See under fracture

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.

On Tuesday, world champion Peres Jepchirchir withdrew from the women's race after her build-up was affected by a stress fracture.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2026

Grealish, on loan from Manchester City, is likely to undergo surgery after suffering the stress fracture in Everton's 1-0 win against Aston Villa on January 18.

From Barron's • Jan. 30, 2026

Everton manager David Moyes says it is a "big blow" that winger Jack Grealish has a stress fracture in his foot.

From BBC • Jan. 23, 2026

Between Test appearances, Archer had multiple surgeries on a stress fracture to his elbow and also had to overcome a stress fracture in his back.

From BBC • Jul. 14, 2025

Archer underwent surgery on the elbow that May, did so again the following December when the issue was not resolved and then sustained a stress fracture in his back in 2022.

From BBC • Jun. 26, 2025

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023