metatarsal: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C2/TechnicalMedical, anatomical, formal, sports science
Quick answer
What does “metatarsal” mean?
relating to the five long bones of the foot between the ankle and the toes.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
relating to the five long bones of the foot between the ankle and the toes.
The five bones themselves, collectively forming the front part of the foot's skeleton, or sometimes an injury or condition affecting these bones.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or semantic differences. Spelling is consistent.
Connotations
Primarily medical/anatomical in both dialects. Associated with sports injuries (e.g., football) in general media.
Frequency
Equally low-frequency in everyday speech, used identically in technical contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “metatarsal” in a Sentence
suffer a fracture of the [ordinal] metatarsalexperience pain in the metatarsal regionthe metatarsal bones articulate with...Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “metatarsal” in a Sentence
adjective
British English
- The scan revealed a metatarsal stress fracture.
- She was treated for metatarsalgia, pain in the metatarsal region.
American English
- The player has a metatarsal injury and is out for six weeks.
- Proper shoes support the metatarsal arch.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Not used.
Academic
Used in medical, anatomical, physiotherapy, and sports science texts and lectures.
Everyday
Rare, except when discussing specific sports injuries. 'He broke a metatarsal.'
Technical
Precise anatomical descriptor. Used in diagnostics, surgery, rehabilitation, and biomechanics.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “metatarsal”
Neutral
Weak
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “metatarsal”
- Mispronouncing it as 'meta-TAR-sal' with the primary stress on 'tar' (correct stress is 'ta').
- Using it as a synonym for 'toe bone' (phalanges).
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
They are the five long bones located in the middle of your foot, connecting the ankle bones (tarsals) to the toe bones (phalanges).
It can be both. As a noun: 'He fractured a metatarsal.' As an adjective: 'She has metatarsal pain.'
Because fractures or stress injuries to these bones are common in high-impact sports like football, rugby, and running, often sidelining players.
Tarsals are a group of seven bones that form the ankle and heel. Metatarsals are the five bones immediately in front of them, forming the main structure of the foot's sole.
relating to the five long bones of the foot between the ankle and the toes.
Metatarsal is usually medical, anatomical, formal, sports science in register.
Metatarsal: in British English it is pronounced /ˌmetəˈtɑːs(ə)l/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌmedəˈtɑːrs(ə)l/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think 'META' (beyond) + 'TARSAL' (ankle bones). The metatarsals are the bones beyond the tarsals, heading towards the toes.
Conceptual Metaphor
The foot's 'bridge' or 'arch' support structure.
Practice
Quiz
What is a 'metatarsal'?