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

The soft tissue of the ankle’s ligaments connects the ankle bones (like the tibia, fibula, and talus) to one another and stabilizes the joint. —Alyssa Ages, Outside Online, 28 Feb. 2025

So was cornerback Jaylen Watson, who suffered a broken fibula in the Chiefs’ Week 6 game against the San Francisco 49ers. —Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 10 Jan. 2025

This is a huge boost for Kansas City, who has been without Watson since late October due to a broken fibula. —Dan Perry, Newsweek, 3 Jan. 2025

But after scoring twice against the Utah Hockey Club last Monday, the Great 8 was knocked out of action with a lower-leg injury that was later revealed to be a fractured fibula. —Carol Schram, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024

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