wrist

American  

[rist] / rɪst /

noun

• wrists
  plural

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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Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• wrists
  plural

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

See Examples For:

wrist wrists

It’s based on recent fitness activity, as well as heart-rate variability, wrist temperature and other biometrics.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 19, 2026

Each person wore a light sensor on their wrist for seven days, allowing researchers to measure how much light they were exposed to during the night.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 11, 2026

Going into the final major of the season, everyone wondered how Alcaraz would fare in his first tournament since mid-April following an injury to his playing right wrist.

From BBC ● Sep. 3, 2026

Even Torre thought Ballmer could escape with a mild tap on the wrist.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 3, 2026

She just touched the tail hanging down from Tansy’s wrist.

From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck

These devices fit on our fingers or wrists, and can’t read our brain waves.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 6, 2026

"Arboreality is fundamental to understanding primates - including ourselves - because it has shaped our body to a large degree: hands and feet, wrists and ankles, nails instead of claws, etc.,"

From Science Daily ● Aug. 31, 2026

His emotions — and that sticky goo in his wrists — are about to burst.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 30, 2026

Wearing an orange jail uniform, he was shackled at the wrists and ankles.

From BBC ● Jul. 22, 2026

Nok, Pong, and Somkit held on to one another, confused and awed at the light that still shone from their wrists.

From "A Wish in the Dark" by Christina Soontornvat