shoulder blade

noun

plural shoulder blades
: either of a pair of large, flat, triangular-shaped bones that lie above the rib cage on either side of the upper back : scapula
a fractured shoulder blade
He has a wing-shaped tribal tattoo between his shoulder blades.Cliff Mehrtens
… types who didn't wash and grew hair to their shoulder blades.Curtis W. Casewit

Examples of shoulder blade in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web From the nape of my neck, the prickly feeling spread to a point between my shoulder blades. Mya Guarnieri, San Diego Union-Tribune, 3 Mar. 2024 An autopsy report stated Terrance had 15 to 20 bruises on his head, as well as more on his shoulder blades and back, which prosecutors believe were caused by the boy's fight to stay alive, Macomb Daily reports. Nicole Acosta, Peoplemag, 6 Feb. 2024 There is a large bloody hole between his shoulder blade and spine. Washington Post, 5 Feb. 2024 The woman was shot in her upper arm and shoulder blade, the warrant said. Angie Dimichele, Sun Sentinel, 2 Jan. 2024 One of the first bits of ink added to his body was a portrait of his mother, Celia, which sits on his left shoulder blade. Nasha Smith, Peoplemag, 21 Feb. 2024 Squeeze your shoulder blades together to straighten out your spine, pulling the slack out of the bar. Cori Ritchey, Men's Health, 31 Aug. 2023 Pull the weights toward your chest, keeping your elbows close to your body and squeezing your shoulder blades at the top of the movement. Dominique Fluker, Essence, 30 Jan. 2024 Raise both arms up and out to the sides while squeezing shoulder blades together. Women's Health, 18 Aug. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'shoulder blade.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of shoulder blade was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near shoulder blade

Cite this Entry

“Shoulder blade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shoulder%20blade. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

shoulder blade

noun
: the flat triangular bone of the back of the shoulder that forms a joint with the humerus of the upper arm

called also scapula

Medical Definition

shoulder blade

noun

More from Merriam-Webster on shoulder blade

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!