femur

noun

fe·​mur ˈfē-mər How to pronounce femur (audio)
plural femurs or femora ˈfe-mə-rə How to pronounce femur (audio)
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
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.
Then in January 2023, police discovered a human femur. David Chiu, People.com, 25 June 2025 Archaeologists also found that thrushes' skeletons were missing large, meatier bones like femurs and humeri. Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 23 June 2025 Williams left the bar next and, according to a witness, exchanged words with Martin. Martin, using Smith’s car as cover, opened fire on Williams, who was hit in the thigh and suffered a broken femur. Edmund H. Mahony, Hartford Courant, 6 June 2025 One patient was transported to Bayfront Hospital with a femur fracture and another with unknown injuries, NBC reported, citing an Orlando Health spokesperson. Mark Weinstein, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for femur

Word History

Etymology

New Latin femor-, femur, from Latin, thigh

First Known Use

1666, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of femur was in 1666

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Femur.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/femur. Accessed 20 Jul. 2025.

Kids Definition

femur

noun
fe·​mur ˈfē-mər How to pronounce femur (audio)
plural femurs or femora ˈfem-(ə-)rə How to pronounce femur (audio)
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 How to pronounce femur (audio)
plural femurs or femora ˈfem-(ə-)rə How to pronounce femur (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on femur

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