ilium

noun

il·​i·​um ˈi-lē-əm 

plural ilia ˈi-lē-ə 

: the broad, dorsal, upper, and largest of the three principal bones composing either half of the pelvis

Examples of ilium in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In contrast, the upper part of the hip, the ilium, was surprisingly broad — a humanlike adaptation for walking on the ground. —Jill Neimark, Discover Magazine, 28 July 2011

The ilium looks like those of a living group of frogs called the helmeted frogs. —Lucas Joel, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2020

The last bones to go, the ilium and sacrum (the big hip bones atop the skeleton) are the heaviest bone structure. —Steve Johnson and Phil Geib, chicagotribune.com, 3 Feb. 2018

Word History

Etymology

New Latin, alteration of Latin ilia

First Known Use

1706, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

ilium

noun

il·​i·​um ˈil-ē-əm 

plural ilia -ē-ə 

: the broad, upper, and largest of the three bones composing either side of the pelvis

Medical Definition

ilium

noun

il·​i·​um ˈil-ē-əm 

plural ilia -ē-ə 

: the dorsal, upper, and largest one of the three bones composing either lateral half of the pelvis that in humans is broad and expanded above and narrower below where it joins with the ischium and pubis to form part of the acetabulum