humerus

noun

hu·​mer·​us ˈhyü-mə-rəs 

plural humeri ˈhyü-mə-ˌrī  -ˌrē 

: the long bone of the upper arm or forelimb extending from the shoulder to the elbow

Examples of humerus in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The humerus bone unearthed in the 1990s dates back to between 103 million and 108 million years ago, and is the only fossil example of the extinct monotreme Kryoryctes cadburyi. —Margherita Bassi, Smithsonian Magazine, 1 May 2025

The doctors nervously discussed the best way to force his humerus bone back into its joint. —Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 17 Apr. 2025

The humerus is the long bone in the upper arm that extends from your shoulder to your elbow joint. —Maggie Aime, Msn, Health, 6 Dec. 2024

These high-confidence marks were located on four tibiae, one mandible, one humerus, and two long bone fragments. —Jack Knudson, Discover Magazine, 23 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Latin humerus, umerus upper arm, shoulder; akin to Goth ams shoulder, Greek ōmos

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for humerus

• humorous
• numerous

Kids Definition

humerus

noun

hu·​mer·​us ˈhyüm-(ə-)rəs 

plural humeri ˈhyü-mə-ˌrī 

-ˌrē

: the long bone of the upper arm or forelimb that extends from the shoulder to the elbow

Medical Definition

humerus

noun

hu·​mer·​us ˈhyüm-(ə-)rəs 

plural humeri ˈhyü-mə-ˌrī  -ˌrē 

: the longest bone of the upper arm or forelimb extending from the shoulder to the elbow, articulating above by a rounded head with the glenoid cavity, having below a broad articular surface divided by a ridge into a medial pulley-shaped portion and a lateral rounded eminence that articulate with the ulna and radius respectively, and providing various processes and modified surfaces for the attachment of muscles