breastbone: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1Formal, Technical, Medical
Quick answer
What does “breastbone” mean?
The long, flat vertical bone in the centre of the chest to which the ribs are attached.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The long, flat vertical bone in the centre of the chest to which the ribs are attached; the sternum.
Can metaphorically represent the centre or core of something, especially when referring to emotional or physical resilience.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No difference in meaning or usage. 'Sternum' is the more formal, technical term used equally in both varieties.
Connotations
Neutral anatomical term. 'Breastbone' is slightly less clinical than 'sternum' but still formal.
Frequency
'Sternum' is more frequent in medical/academic contexts. 'Breastbone' is common in patient-oriented medical advice, first aid, and general anatomical description.
Grammar
How to Use “breastbone” in a Sentence
The {adj} breastbone {verb}.Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “breastbone” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- (No standard verb form. Rarely, 'to breastbone' could be coined in specialist contexts like butchery.)
American English
- (No standard verb form.)
adverb
British English
- (No standard adverb form.)
American English
- (No standard adverb form.)
adjective
British English
- (No standard adjective form. 'Sternal' is the adjectival form from 'sternum'.)
American English
- (No standard adjective form.)
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Virtually never used.
Academic
Common in medical, biological, and anatomical texts.
Everyday
Used when discussing injuries, CPR, or anatomy in a non-professional setting.
Technical
The standard lay term for the sternum; used in medical instructions, first aid manuals, and patient communications.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “breastbone”
- Incorrect pluralisation: 'breastbones' (correct, but context is usually singular). Mispronunciation: /ˈbriːstbəʊn/ instead of /ˈbrɛstbəʊn/.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, 'sternum' is the formal medical term, and 'breastbone' is the common anatomical term for the same bone.
Yes, a sternal fracture is a break of the breastbone, often caused by significant trauma like a car accident.
The lower half of the breastbone is the correct hand placement for effective chest compressions during CPR.
It is a single, closed compound word: breastbone. The older form 'breast bone' (two words) is now considered an alternative spelling but is less common.
The long, flat vertical bone in the centre of the chest to which the ribs are attached.
Breastbone is usually formal, technical, medical in register.
Breastbone: in British English it is pronounced /ˈbrɛstbəʊn/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈbrɛstboʊn/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[Rare] To feel it in one's breastbone: to have a deep, intuitive feeling about something.”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a bird: the breast is the front, and the bone running down the centre is the BREASTBONE. It's the 'bone' on your 'breast' (chest).
Conceptual Metaphor
CORE/SUPPORT: The breastbone is conceptualised as a central pillar or shield for the chest (e.g., 'the blow landed squarely on his breastbone').
Practice
Quiz
Which of the following is a direct synonym for 'breastbone'?