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noun Uncommon

ligament

LIH-guh-muhnt

Ligament (noun) means a tough band of tissue that connects one bone to another and helps stabilize a joint. Example: “She tore a ligament in her knee during the match.”

noun
1
A tough band of tissue that connects one bone to another and helps stabilize a joint.
"She tore a ligament in her knee during the match."
"Ligaments are less stretchy than tendons."

How to use ligament

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThe tough tissue that holds your bones together at a joint.

Common mistake

Don't confuse with a tendon, which connects muscle to bone rather than bone to bone.

Easily confused with
Common pairings
tear a ligament torn ligament knee ligament

Word forms

ligaments plural

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Test yourself on “ligament” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She tore a _____ in her knee during the match.

Etymology

From Latin ligamentum, from ligare, "to tie or bind."

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for ligament

See all rhymes for ligament →

Frequently asked questions

What does “ligament” mean?

The word “ligament” means a tough band of tissue that connects one bone to another and helps stabilize a joint. In plain terms, the tough tissue that holds your bones together at a joint.

How do you pronounce “ligament”?

“Ligament” is pronounced LIH-guh-muhnt (/ˈlɪɡəmənt/ in IPA).

How do you use “ligament” in a sentence?

Here is “ligament” used in a sentence: “She tore a ligament in her knee during the match.”

What part of speech is “ligament”?

“Ligament” is a noun.

Where does the word “ligament” come from?

The word “ligament” comes from Latin. From Latin ligamentum, from ligare, "to tie or bind.".

Is “ligament” a common word?

“Ligament” is an uncommon word in modern English.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial