ligament
Americannoun
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Anatomy, Zoology. a band of tissue, usually white and fibrous, serving to connect bones, hold organs in place, etc.
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a tie or bond.
The desire for personal freedom is a ligament uniting all peoples.
noun
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anatomy any one of the bands or sheets of tough fibrous connective tissue that restrict movement in joints, connect various bones or cartilages, support muscles, etc
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any physical or abstract connection or bond
Etymology
Origin of ligament
1375–1425; late Middle English < Medieval Latin ligāmentum, Latin: bandage, equivalent to ligā ( re ) to tie + -mentum -ment
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
I’ve had sports injuries over the years, and it felt like that—a torn ligament, maybe.
From Slate • Mar. 29, 2026
"Due to his crash he suffered injuries, most likely bone and ligament damage in particular to his right knee and also right wrist," said team doctor Lorenz Emmert.
From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026
Leger-Walker played her first four seasons at Washington State but tore her anterior cruciate ligament midway through her senior year.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 8, 2026
Hamate fractures might not be as severe as elbow ligament tears, but their root cause bears a surprising resemblance.
From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 25, 2026
It could be as bad as a broken bone or a blown suspensory ligament.
From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand
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Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.