1
a
: the part of the leg between the knee and the ankle in humans or the corresponding part in various other vertebrates
b
: leg
c
: a cut of beef, veal, mutton, or lamb from the upper or the lower part of the leg : shin see beef illustration
2
: a straight narrow usually essential part of an object: such as
a
: the straight part of a nail or pin
c
: the part of an anchor between the ring and the crown see anchor illustration
d
: the part of a fishhook between the eye and the bend
e
: the part of a key between the handle and the bit
f
: the stem of a tobacco pipe or the part between the stem and the bowl
h(1)
: the narrow part of the sole of a shoe beneath the instep
(2)
3
: a part of an object by which it can be attached: such as
a(1)
: a projection on the back of a solid button
(2)
: a short stem of thread that holds a sewn button away from the cloth
b
: the end (as of a drill bit) that is gripped in a chuck
4
a
: the latter part of a period of time
b
: the early or main part of a period of time
11 p.m. on the East coast is merely the shank of the evening on the West coast
5
slang
: an often homemade knife
shanked; shanking; shanks
: to hit (a golf ball or shot) with the extreme heel of the club so that the ball goes off in an unintended direction
also
: to kick (a football) in an unintended direction
Examples of shank in a Sentence
Noun
the shank of a drill bit
slashed at the prison guard with a shank he had secretly made from a scrap of metal
Recent Examples on the Web
Keith Pandolfi, Cincinnati Enquirer, 24 Oct. 2025
The top strap keeps your foot nestled deep in the shoe, and a setback cleat position works with the internal shank for better flex, pedaling, and comfort.
—Will Porter, Outside, 14 Oct. 2025
Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 27 Oct. 2025
Against Chelsea, Liverpool defenders kept passing to Mamardashvili’s weaker right foot (probably a force of habit), meaning the goalkeeper either had to take an extra beat to work the ball onto his left, or shank a long pass off his right.
—Carl Anka, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shank
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Noun
Start with a glass of stout and the Hungarian mushroom soup before moving on to either the pork shank, prime rib (the best in town) or Amish chicken for an entree.
—Keith Pandolfi, Cincinnati Enquirer, 24 Oct. 2025
The top strap keeps your foot nestled deep in the shoe, and a setback cleat position works with the internal shank for better flex, pedaling, and comfort.
—Will Porter, Outside, 14 Oct. 2025
Verb
One of Weston’s punts was a touchback, and one of the two kicked out of bounds was shanked for a net of 13 yards.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 27 Oct. 2025
Against Chelsea, Liverpool defenders kept passing to Mamardashvili’s weaker right foot (probably a force of habit), meaning the goalkeeper either had to take an extra beat to work the ball onto his left, or shank a long pass off his right.
—Carl Anka, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for shank
Cite this Entry
“Shank.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shank. Accessed 4 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
shank
noun
: the part of the leg between the knee and the ankle in humans or a corresponding part in other vertebrates
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