metacarpal

1 of 2

adjective

meta·​car·​pal ˌme-tə-ˈkär-pəl How to pronounce metacarpal (audio)
: of, relating to, or being the metacarpus or a metacarpal

metacarpal

2 of 2

noun

: a bone of the part of the hand or forefoot between the carpus and the phalanges that typically contains five more or less elongated bones when all the digits are present

Examples of metacarpal in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Prison officials said the metacarpal intra-articular base fracture, sometimes called a Bennett or Rolando fracture, to Templin’s thumb was caused by Templin repeatedly punching a wall. Nicole Blanchard, Idaho Statesman, 13 June 2024 Merely two hours after the game it was announced that Barnes had suffered a fracture to his third metacarpal bone in his left hand and is now out indefinitely. Esfandiar Baraheni, Forbes, 2 Mar. 2024
Noun
After logging 15 minutes in the first half of that defeat, a halftime X-ray on his right hand revealed a fractured second metacarpal. Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 25 Feb. 2025 Now the rotation again becomes a work in progress for Spoelstra and the Heat, with Jovic awaiting further testing on the fracture of the second metacarpal in his right hand, an absence expected to measure in terms of weeks, if not longer for the third-year Serbian big man. Ira Winderman, Sun Sentinel, 24 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for metacarpal

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1739, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1831, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of metacarpal was in 1739

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Metacarpal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/metacarpal. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.

Kids Definition

metacarpal

1 of 2 adjective
meta·​car·​pal ˌmet-ə-ˈkär-pəl How to pronounce metacarpal (audio)
: of, relating to, or being the part of the hand or front foot or a bone of this part that is between the carpal bones and the bones of the fingers or toes

metacarpal

2 of 2 noun
: a metacarpal bone

Medical Definition

metacarpal

1 of 2 adjective
meta·​car·​pal ˌmet-ə-ˈkär-pəl How to pronounce metacarpal (audio)
: of, relating to, or being the metacarpus or a metacarpal

metacarpal

2 of 2 noun
: any bone of the metacarpus of the human hand or the front foot in quadrupeds

More from Merriam-Webster on metacarpal

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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