ligament

noun

lig·​a·​ment ˈli-gə-mənt How to pronounce ligament (audio)
1
: a tough fibrous band of tissue connecting the articular extremities of bones or supporting an organ in place
2
: a connecting or unifying bond
the law of nations, the great ligament of mankind— Edmund Burke
ligamentous
ˌli-gə-ˈmen-təs How to pronounce ligament (audio)
adjective

Examples of ligament in a Sentence

He sprained ligaments in his knee.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
This can place excessive pressure on the knee joints, including the cartilage, meniscus, ligaments, and bony structures. — Amber Sayer, Outside Online, 21 Mar. 2025 Neck injuries occur when shaking causes injuries to ligaments and muscles that support the neck. — Lori Frasier, The Conversation, 19 Mar. 2025 Cialis side effects include headache, indigestion, back pain, myalgia (muscle, ligament, or joint pain), nasal congestion, flushing, and limb pain.4 Levitra Like Viagra and Cialis, Levitra is an oral medication that inhibits PDE-5. — Mark Gurarie, Health, 14 Mar. 2025 Unlike the hip, which has a deep ball-and-socket structure for support, the shoulder’s shallow socket depends on a network of muscles, tendons and ligaments for stability. — Dana Santas, CNN, 12 Mar. 2025 See All Example Sentences for ligament

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Medieval Latin & Latin; Medieval Latin ligamentum, from Latin, band, tie, from ligare

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of ligament was in the 14th century

Phrases Containing ligament

Browse Nearby Words

lig
ligament
ligamental
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Cite this Entry

“Ligament.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ligament. Accessed 3 Apr. 2025.

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Kids Definition

ligament

noun
lig·​a·​ment ˈlig-ə-mənt How to pronounce ligament (audio)
: a tough band of tissue that holds bones together or keeps an organ in place in the body
Etymology

Middle English ligament "connecting tissue, ligament," derived from Latin ligamentum "band, something used for tying," from ligare "to bind, tie" — related to ally

Medical Definition

ligament

noun
lig·​a·​ment ˈlig-ə-mənt How to pronounce ligament (audio)
1
: a tough band of tissue that serves to connect the articular extremities of bones or to support or retain an organ in place and is usually composed of coarse bundles of dense white fibrous tissue parallel or closely interlaced, pliant, and flexible, but not extensible
2
: any of various folds or bands of pleura, peritoneum, or mesentery connecting parts or organs

More from Merriam-Webster on ligament

Nglish: Translation of ligament for Spanish Speakers

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about ligament

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