Illustration of ball-and-socket joint
- ball-and-socket joint 1
ball-and-socket joint
noun
ball-and-sock·et joint
ˈbȯl-ən(d)-ˈsä-kət- 
1
: a joint in which a ball moves within a socket so as to allow rotary motion in every direction within certain limits
2
: an articulation (such as the hip joint) in which the rounded head of one bone fits into a cuplike cavity of the other and admits movement in any direction
Examples of ball-and-socket joint in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Initially, she was relieved to learn nothing was broken, but a follow-up appointment would show cracks in the ball-and-socket joint, leaving her in crutches for three months.
—
Nicole Stracek, Twin Cities, 8 Sep. 2025
Why tight hips strain your knees The hip is a ball-and-socket joint, built for mobility in multiple directions.
—Dana Santas, CNN Money, 25 Apr. 2025
After the sculpting is done, the puppets are separated into pieces, and an interior armature is made of steel ball-and-socket joints that can be used to animate the character.
—Ryan Fleming, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2025
The hip, which is a ball-and-socket joint at the upper thigh bone, is most likely to be fractured at its uppermost portion, known as the femoral neck.
—Nina Shapiro, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024
Shepherds are prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, painful genetic diseases in which the ball-and-socket joints fit together poorly.
—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 31 July 2023
The phone/camera mount features a ball-and-socket joint and the kit comes with the addition of a gooseneck mount for the ring light, making lighting and filming even the most intricate tabletop activities a breeze.
—Good Housekeeping, 8 Feb. 2023
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Nicole Stracek, Twin Cities, 8 Sep. 2025
Why tight hips strain your knees The hip is a ball-and-socket joint, built for mobility in multiple directions.
—Dana Santas, CNN Money, 25 Apr. 2025
After the sculpting is done, the puppets are separated into pieces, and an interior armature is made of steel ball-and-socket joints that can be used to animate the character.
—Ryan Fleming, Deadline, 13 Feb. 2025
The hip, which is a ball-and-socket joint at the upper thigh bone, is most likely to be fractured at its uppermost portion, known as the femoral neck.
—Nina Shapiro, Forbes, 14 Dec. 2024
Shepherds are prone to hip and elbow dysplasia, painful genetic diseases in which the ball-and-socket joints fit together poorly.
—Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 31 July 2023
The phone/camera mount features a ball-and-socket joint and the kit comes with the addition of a gooseneck mount for the ring light, making lighting and filming even the most intricate tabletop activities a breeze.
—Good Housekeeping, 8 Feb. 2023
Cite this Entry
“Ball-and-socket joint.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ball-and-socket%20joint. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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