ligament: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Formal/Technical
Quick answer
What does “ligament” mean?
A short band of tough, flexible, fibrous connective tissue that connects two bones or cartilages or holds together a joint.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A short band of tough, flexible, fibrous connective tissue that connects two bones or cartilages or holds together a joint.
Something which binds or connects separate entities or parts together, often in a metaphorical sense.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. The concept is identical in both medical and general use.
Connotations
Neutral and technical in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally common in medical, sports, and general health contexts in both regions.
Grammar
How to Use “ligament” in a Sentence
The ligament connects [BONE A] to [BONE B].She suffered a torn ligament in her [JOINT].Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “ligament” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- The procedure aims to ligament the bones more securely. (Rare/technical)
American English
- Surgeons can ligament the joint using a graft. (Rare/technical)
adjective
British English
- He has a chronic ligamentous injury from football.
American English
- The MRI showed significant ligamentous damage in the ankle.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except potentially in metaphors about corporate structures being 'the ligament' holding departments together.
Academic
Common in medical, biological, sports science, and physical therapy texts.
Everyday
Common in discussions of sports injuries, accidents, and physical health.
Technical
The primary context, used with precision in anatomy, orthopaedics, and physiotherapy.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “ligament”
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “ligament”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “ligament”
- Confusing 'ligament' (bone-to-bone) with 'tendon' (muscle-to-bone).
- Misspelling as 'ligiment' or 'legament'.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
A ligament connects bone to bone, stabilizing joints. A tendon connects muscle to bone, enabling movement.
Minor sprains can heal with rest, but complete tears often require surgical intervention, especially in key weight-bearing joints like the knee.
It is a common word in medical, sports, and general health contexts, but less frequent in everyday conversation outside of discussing injuries.
Yes, they are named by location and function (e.g., collateral ligaments, cruciate ligaments, annular ligaments).
A short band of tough, flexible, fibrous connective tissue that connects two bones or cartilages or holds together a joint.
Ligament is usually formal/technical in register.
Ligament: in British English it is pronounced /ˈlɪɡ.ə.mənt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈlɪɡ.ə.mənt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'LIGAment' as something that LIGAtes or ties bones together.
Conceptual Metaphor
A LIGAMENT IS A TIE/BOND/CONNECTOR.
Practice
Quiz
What is the primary function of a ligament?