thigh
Americannoun
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thighs
plural
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the part of the lower limb in humans between the hip and the knee.
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the corresponding part of the hind limb of other animals; the femoral region.
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(in birds)
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the true femoral region that is hidden by the skin or feathers of the body.
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the segment below, containing the fibula and tibia.
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Entomology. the femur.
noun
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the part of the leg between the hip and the knee in man
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the corresponding part in other vertebrates and insects
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of thigh
before 900; Middle English thi, thigh ( e ), the ( h ), Old English thīoh, thēoh; cognate with Dutch dij, Old High German dioh, Old Norse thjō
Explanation
Your thigh is the part of your leg between your hip and your knee. Your thighs are probably the strongest parts of your body. Humans' thighs have just one extremely strong bone, the femur, and many muscles, including the hamstrings and quadriceps. Your thigh is joined to your torsos with a ball-and-socket hip joint, and to your lower leg by the hinge joint of a knee. The word thigh comes from a Germanic source that means "the thick or fat part of the leg."
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.
See Examples For:
Among patients 66 and older, demand for breast augmentations, tummy tucks, arm lifts, thigh lifts and facelifts all increased by double digits.
From MarketWatch ● Sep. 5, 2026
Research suggests strength exercises targeting the quadriceps, a group of muscles at the front of the thigh, are particularly effective at reducing joint pain.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 16, 2026
“The crocodile had him by the thigh, and he would turn, and the size of this crocodile, I mean, his head was as long as my torso, his tail thicker than my legs,” Yetter said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026
As the burn would not heal by itself, he has required a graft, where skin was taken from his thigh and then applied to his chest.
From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2026
Finally the owner slapped his thigh and nodded.
From "The Season of Styx Malone" by Kekla Magoon
These can include bright orange flashes or bold white and black patterns on the thighs and lower back.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 30, 2026
"I suffered from body dysmorphia for years because of that, believing that no matter how strong, thin or young I was, there was no escaping the dreaded cottage cheese thighs."
From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026
She clutches her thighs, then her chair, crying and occasionally looking up at the sky, as if searching for answers.
From Barron's ● Jul. 8, 2026
I bring it home, use up some parts — maybe a wing, both thighs and a bit of rib meat — to make a few go-to recipes before stashing the chicken in my fridge.
From Salon ● Jun. 29, 2026
Our thighs and knees ache from going downhill, stepping, sliding over rough terrain.
From "Paradise on Fire" by Jewell Parker Rhodes
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.
