wrist

American  

[rist] / rɪst /

noun

1. the carpus or lower part of the forearm where it joins the hand.

2. the joint or articulation between the forearm and the hand.

3. the part of an article of clothing that fits around the wrist.

4. Machinery. wrist pin.

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wrist British  

/ rɪst /

noun

1. Technical name: carpus.  anatomy the joint between the forearm and the hand

2. the part of a sleeve or glove that covers the wrist

3. machinery

   1. See wrist pin

   2. a joint in which a wrist pin forms the pivot

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wrist Idioms  

1. see slap on the wrist.

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Etymology

Origin of wrist

before 950; Middle English, Old English; cognate with German Rist back of hand, Old Norse rist instep; akin to writhe

Explanation

Your wrist is the joint between your arm and your hand. Without your wrists, it would be hard to play tennis — or even to wave goodbye to your friends. The wrist is a complicated joint that allows you to bend and rotate your hand in many different directions. The entire wrist area includes so many bones, muscles, tendons, and ligaments that it's fairly easy to injure. Carpal tunnel syndrome is one common injury that's caused by repeated motion of the wrist. The word wrist stems from the German Rist, "back of the hand," and a root meaning "to turn or bend."

Example Sentences

As orthopaedic surgeons, my colleague Jack Twomey-Kozak and I see the consequences of those forces in our clinics: back strains, rotator-cuff injuries, golfer’s elbow and wrist problems.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

They tend to start quietly—an elbow that aches after the range, a shoulder that nags during the backswing, a wrist that feels tired late in the round.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 6, 2026

"Due to his crash he suffered injuries, most likely bone and ligament damage in particular to his right knee and also right wrist," said team doctor Lorenz Emmert.

From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026

Reaves, who has a bruise on his shooting wrist, finished with 18 points.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2026

The watch on the wrist of the first soldier says forty-seven minutes after eight.

From "The Light in Hidden Places" by Sharon Cameron