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."
"Her anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and medial collateral ligament (MCL) are torn and Vonn has a lateral fracture of the tibial plateau, the upper end of the tibia or shin bone."
— Jen Christiensen, Vonn’s injury ‘career-delayer,’ not ‘career ender’ (2013)
How to use ligament
Learner’s notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Plural
- ligaments
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."
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for ligament
lament
ornament
armament
filament
sacrament
testament
firmament
tournament
parliament
temperament
predicament
disarmament
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.
