bow legs: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Neutral to slightly informal; technical in medical/veterinary contexts.
Quick answer
What does “bow legs” mean?
A condition where a person's legs curve outward at the knees, leaving a visible space when the feet and ankles are together.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A condition where a person's legs curve outward at the knees, leaving a visible space when the feet and ankles are together.
Can describe any legs with a distinct outward curve, sometimes used metaphorically to describe structural supports or objects with a similar shape. In animals, particularly horses and dogs, it's a term for a conformational fault.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical difference. 'Bowlegged' (one word, adjective) is more common in US spelling; UK often uses hyphen: 'bow-legged'.
Connotations
Similar in both dialects. Can imply a distinctive walk or posture.
Frequency
Equally common and understood in both varieties.
Grammar
How to Use “bow legs” in a Sentence
[Subject] has bow legs.[Subject] is bow-legged.The [noun] left him bow-legged.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “bow legs” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- N/A - not standard as a verb.
American English
- N/A - not standard as a verb.
adverb
British English
- N/A - not standard as an adverb.
American English
- N/A - not standard as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- The old sailor was distinctly bow-legged.
- Rickets can cause a bow-legged appearance.
American English
- He walked with a bowlegged gait from years in the saddle.
- The puppy's front legs are slightly bowlegged.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare. Might appear in ergonomics or workplace health contexts.
Academic
Used in medical, anatomical, veterinary, and anthropological texts.
Everyday
Common descriptive term for a physical characteristic.
Technical
Standard term in orthopaedics, pediatrics, and equine/dog breeding.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “bow legs”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “bow legs”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “bow legs”
- Confusing 'bow legs' with 'bowlegged' (adj.) in writing.
- Misspelling as 'beau legs' or 'bo legs'.
- Using it as a verb (e.g., 'He bowlegs').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they are synonyms. 'Bandy legs' is very common in British English, while 'bow legs' is standard in both UK and US English.
Yes, metaphorically. For example: 'The old chair had bow-legged supports.'
In infants and toddlers, mild bowing is often normal and corrects itself. Persistent or severe bow legs in older children or adults can indicate an underlying condition like Blount's disease or rickets and may require medical evaluation.
The opposite condition is 'knock knees' (genu valgum), where the knees angle inward and touch when the ankles are apart.
A condition where a person's legs curve outward at the knees, leaving a visible space when the feet and ankles are together.
Bow legs is usually neutral to slightly informal; technical in medical/veterinary contexts. in register.
Bow legs: in British English it is pronounced /ˌbəʊ ˈleɡd/ (adjective: bow-legged), and in American English it is pronounced /ˌboʊ ˈlɛɡd/ (adjective: bowlegged). Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Bowlegged from the saddle (implying long hours riding horses).”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of an archer's BOW: it curves outward, just like BOW legs.
Conceptual Metaphor
LEGS ARE ARCHED STRUCTURES (like a bow or a parenthesis).
Practice
Quiz
What is the formal medical term for 'bow legs'?