Is 'clavicle' the same as 'collarbone'?

Yes, 'clavicle' is the formal, anatomical term for the collarbone.

When should I use 'clavicle' instead of 'collarbone'?

Use 'clavicle' in medical, academic, or formal technical writing. In everyday conversation, 'collarbone' is more natural and common.

Can 'clavicle' be used as a verb or adjective?

No, it is only a noun. The related adjective is 'clavicular' (e.g., clavicular ligament).

How do you pronounce 'clavicle'?

In British English: /ˈklavɪk(ə)l/ (KLA-vi-kul). In American English: /ˈklævɪkəl/ (KLA-vi-kul). The main difference is in the vowel of the first syllable.

Is “clavicle” formal?

Clavicle is usually formal, technical in register.

clavicle: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples

UK/ˈklavɪk(ə)l/US/ˈklævɪkəl/

Formal, Technical

My Flashcards

Quick answer

What does “clavicle” mean?

The collarbone.

Audio

Pronunciation

Definition

Meaning and Definition

The collarbone; a long, slightly curved bone that connects the shoulder blade to the breastbone.

In anatomy, the clavicle is one of the main bones of the pectoral girdle, providing structural support and mobility for the shoulder.

Dialectal Variation

British vs American Usage

Differences

No significant difference in meaning or usage. The word is equally technical in both variants.

Connotations

Purely anatomical/medical in both regions.

Frequency

Slightly more common in British medical writing due to historical preference for Latin-derived terms, but the difference is minimal.

Grammar

How to Use “clavicle” in a Sentence

fracture + [possessive] + claviclebreak + [possessive] + clavicleinjure + [possessive] + clavicle

Vocabulary

Collocations

strong

broken claviclefractured clavicleleft clavicleright clavicle

medium

clavicle injuryclavicle boneclavicle fracturesurgery on the clavicle

weak

pain in the clavicleprotect the clavicleclavicle area

Examples

Examples of “clavicle” in a Sentence

adjective

British English

The clavicular region was tender.
He studied the clavicular notch.

American English

The clavicular region was tender.
He studied the clavicular notch.

Usage

Meaning in Context

Academic

Common in medical and biological texts, anatomy lectures, and research papers.

Everyday

Rare. 'Collarbone' is almost always used instead.

Technical

Standard term in anatomy, orthopaedics, physical therapy, and sports medicine.

Vocabulary

Synonyms of “clavicle”

Neutral

collarbone

Weak

shoulder bone

Watch out

Common Mistakes When Using “clavicle”

Mispronunciation as /kləˈvaɪkəl/ or /ˈklævɪkli/
Using 'clavicle' in casual conversation where 'collarbone' is more appropriate.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

: Yes, 'clavicle' is the formal, anatomical term for the collarbone.
: Use 'clavicle' in medical, academic, or formal technical writing. In everyday conversation, 'collarbone' is more natural and common.
: No, it is only a noun. The related adjective is 'clavicular' (e.g., clavicular ligament).
: In British English: /ˈklavɪk(ə)l/ (KLA-vi-kul). In American English: /ˈklævɪkəl/ (KLA-vi-kul). The main difference is in the vowel of the first syllable.
: The collarbone.
: Clavicle is usually formal, technical in register.

Learning

Memory Aids

Mnemonic

Think of a CLARINET (sounds like 'cla...') that you rest on your COLLARbone. Clavicle = Collarbone.

Practice

Quiz

Fill in the gap

After the fall, the cyclist was diagnosed with a fractured .

Multiple Choice

Which of the following is a correct synonym for 'clavicle'?