fibula

noun

fib·​u·​la ˈfi-byə-lə 

plural fibulae ˈfi-byə-lē  -lī  or fibulas

1

: the outer and usually smaller of the two bones between the knee and ankle in the hind or lower limbs of vertebrates

2

: a clasp resembling a safety pin used especially by the ancient Greeks and Romans

fibular

ˈfi-byə-lər 

adjective

Illustration of fibula

• fibula 2

Examples of fibula in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Those odds dropped slowly with each game Ovechkin missed due to a fractured left fibula until all progress from his hot streak was erased. —Dom Luszczyszyn, The Athletic, 26 Feb. 2025

Expected to be one of the more impressive throwers at the combine, Shough will have a lot of eyes on his medical reports coming out of the week after suffering a broken collarbone and a broken fibula during his time in college. —Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 25 Feb. 2025

He's had fingers, toes, tibia, fibula, ankle, coccyx, ribs, shattered his elbow, sternum. —Cara Lynn Shultz, People.com, 19 Feb. 2025

And Jaden Ivey was in the midst of a career season before suffering a broken fibula. —The Athletic Nba Staff, The Athletic, 14 Feb. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin, pin, clasp; akin to Latin figere to fasten

First Known Use

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

fibula

noun

fib·​u·​la ˈfib-yə-lə 

plural fibulae -ˌlē 

-ˌlī

or fibulas

: the outer and usually the smaller of the two bones between the knee and ankle of the hind or lower limb

fibular

-lər 

adjective

Medical Definition

fibula

noun

fib·​u·​la ˈfib-yə-lə 

plural fibulae

-lē also -ˌlī

or fibulas

: the outer or postaxial and usually the smaller of the two bones of the hind or lower limb below the knee that is the slenderest bone of the human body in proportion to its length, articulates above with the external tuberosity of the tibia and below with the talus, and has its lower end forming the external malleolus of the ankle

called also calf bone

fibular

-lər 

adjective