Achilles tendon

noun

: the strong tendon joining the muscles in the calf of the leg to the bone of the heel

called also Achilles

Word History

First Known Use

1703, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler

The first known use of Achilles tendon was in 1703

See more words from the same year

Cite this Entry

Style

“Achilles tendon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Achilles%20tendon. Accessed 3 Mar. 2025.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

Achilles tendon

noun

: the strong tendon joining the muscles in the calf of the leg to the bone of the heel

Medical Definition

Achilles tendon

noun

: the strong tendon joining the muscles in the calf of the leg to the bone of the heel

called also tendon of Achilles

compare hamstring entry 1

More from Merriam-Webster

Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.

Can you solve 4 words at once?

Word of the Day

draconian

See Definitions and Examples »

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

'Sneaked' or 'Snuck': Which is correct?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

More Commonly Misspelled Words

Words You Always Have to Look Up

Popular in Wordplay

9 Superb Owl Words

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

8 Words with Fascinating Histories

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

Birds Say the Darndest Things

Popular Features

Achilles tendon

noun

Word History

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Kids Definition

Medical Definition

More from Merriam-Webster on Achilles tendon