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
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
The phone holder can be applied to the windshield or dashboard and features a telescopic arm with a pivoting ball-and-socket joint, allowing for a wide array of customization in terms of viewing angle.
—Nikolas Greenwald, Good Housekeeping, 10 Jan. 2023
Their wrist is made up of a ball-and-socket joint, much like our shoulders or hips.
—Discover Magazine, 17 Mar. 2011
At the end of each of the small primate’s hands are six fingers, including a long and adroit middle finger that can swivel in any direction due to its ball-and-socket joint, like a human shoulder, writes Defector’s Sabrina Imbler.
—Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Oct. 2022
The shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint that is mobile, but also unstable.
—Jen Murphy, WSJ, 15 Jan. 2022
The columns are substantial but are linked to the roof only with a daringly thin ball-and-socket joint.
—Anthony Paletta, WSJ, 14 Jan. 2022
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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
The phone holder can be applied to the windshield or dashboard and features a telescopic arm with a pivoting ball-and-socket joint, allowing for a wide array of customization in terms of viewing angle.
—Nikolas Greenwald, Good Housekeeping, 10 Jan. 2023
Their wrist is made up of a ball-and-socket joint, much like our shoulders or hips.
—Discover Magazine, 17 Mar. 2011
At the end of each of the small primate’s hands are six fingers, including a long and adroit middle finger that can swivel in any direction due to its ball-and-socket joint, like a human shoulder, writes Defector’s Sabrina Imbler.
—Will Sullivan, Smithsonian Magazine, 31 Oct. 2022
The shoulder is a ball-and-socket joint that is mobile, but also unstable.
—Jen Murphy, WSJ, 15 Jan. 2022
The columns are substantial but are linked to the roof only with a daringly thin ball-and-socket joint.
—Anthony Paletta, WSJ, 14 Jan. 2022
Dictionary Entries Near ball-and-socket joint
Cite this Entry
“Ball-and-socket joint.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ball-and-socket%20joint. Accessed 9 Feb. 2025.
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