tibia

noun

tib·​ia ˈti-bē-ə 

plural tibiae ˈti-bē-ˌē  -bē-ˌī  also tibias

1

: the inner and usually larger of the two bones of the vertebrate hind or lower limb between the knee and ankle

2

: the fourth joint of the leg of an insect between the femur and tarsus

tibial

ˈti-bē-əl 

adjective

Examples of tibia in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In 2018, Smith sustained a leg injury on the field that fractured his tibia and fibula in multiple locations. —Lipi Roy, Forbes.com, 16 May 2025

The signal-caller suffered a spiral and compound fracture to his tibia and fibula in his right leg after JJ Watt and Kareem Jackson convened in a sack. —Anna Lazarus Caplan, People.com, 1 May 2025

He was taken to a hospital with a tibia and fibula fracture and quickly rushed into surgery. —Joe Kozlowski, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025

Now, there are additional ligaments running along the sides of each of your knees to connect the femur and tibia. —Bruce Y. Lee, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Latin

First Known Use

circa 1706, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for tibia

• amphibia
• tibiae

Kids Definition

tibia

noun

tib·​ia ˈtib-ē-ə 

plural tibiae -ē-ˌē 

-ē-ˌī

also tibias

1

: the inner and usually larger of the two bones of the vertebrate leg that is located between the knee and the ankle

called also shinbone

2

: the fourth joint of the leg of an insect between the femur and the tarsus

tibial

-ē-əl 

adjective

Medical Definition

tibia

noun

tib·​ia ˈtib-ē-ə 

plural tibiae -ē-ˌē  -ē-ˌī  also tibias

: the inner and usually larger of the two bones of the leg between the knee and ankle that articulates above with the femur and below with the talus

called also shinbone