femur

noun

fe·​mur ˈfē-mər 

plural femurs or femora ˈfe-mə-rə 

ˈfem-rə

1

: the proximal bone of the hind or lower limb that extends from the hip to the knee

called also thigh bone

2

: the segment of an insect's leg that is third from the body

Examples of femur in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

But that was foisted on the 6-foot-1 guard anyway after a bone cyst was found on his left femur in the fall. —Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025

The trochlea is a groove in the lower end of the femur that guides the kneecap during knee movements, according to drrobertlaprademd.com. —Jason Beede, Orlando Sentinel, 28 Feb. 2025

Those who walked early on femurs that had broken just above the knee had no higher rate of complications than those who stayed off the leg for six weeks. —Lydia Denworth, Scientific American, 18 Feb. 2025

There were no signs of illness in the femur and rib. —Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 13 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

New Latin femor-, femur, from Latin, thigh

First Known Use

1666, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for femur

• beamer
• creamer
• dreamer
• lemur
• reamer
• schemer
• steamer
• streamer
• redeemer

Kids Definition

femur

noun

fe·​mur ˈfē-mər 

plural femurs or femora ˈfem-(ə-)rə 

1

: the long bone of the hind or lower limb extending from the hip to the knee

called also thighbone

2

: the segment of an insect's leg that is third from the body

femoral

ˈfem-(ə-)rəl

adjective

Medical Definition

femur

noun

fe·​mur ˈfē-mər 

plural femurs or femora ˈfem-(ə-)rə 

1

: the proximal bone of the hind or lower limb that is the longest and largest bone in the human body, extends from the hip to the knee, articulates above with the acetabulum by a rounded head connected with the shaft of the bone by an oblique neck bearing a pair of trochanters for the attachment of muscles, and articulates with the tibia below by a pair of condyles

called also thigh bone

2

: the segment of an insect's leg that is third from the body