sciatic nerve

noun

: either of the pair of largest nerves in the body that arise one on each side from the nerve plexus supplying the posterior limb and pelvic region and that pass out of the pelvis and down the back of the thigh

Examples of sciatic nerve in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The sciatic nerve starts in your lower spine, goes through your pelvis, then splits into two parts, each one running down the back of your legs to your toes. —Sarah Bradley, Health, 11 May 2025

Sciatica is a pain that moves along the sciatic nerve – starting in the lower back and extending down a leg. —Alyssa Goldberg, USA Today, 21 Apr. 2025

Sometimes, intense sciatic nerve pain would sideline him from events. —Theresa Braine, New York Daily News, 21 Apr. 2025

Tanzi's lawyers said in court documents filed last week that their client is morbidly obese and suffers from sciatica, a condition that causes pain along the back's sciatic nerve. —Landon Mion, FOXNews.com, 31 Mar. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1726, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for sciatic nerve

• conserve
• deserve
• manoeuvre
• observe
• preserve
• reserve
• subserve
• curve
• mirv
• serve
• swerve
• verve

Kids Definition

sciatic nerve

noun

sī-ˌat-ik-

: a nerve that runs down the back of the thigh and is the largest nerve in the body

Medical Definition

sciatic nerve

noun

: either of the pair of largest nerves in the body that arise one on each side from the sacral plexus and that pass out of the pelvis through the greater sciatic foramen and down the back of the thigh to its lower third where division into the tibial and common peroneal nerves occurs