breastbone

noun

breast·​bone ˈbres(t)-ˌbōn How to pronounce breastbone (audio)

Examples of breastbone 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.
The pectoralis major runs from the collarbone and breastbone to the upper arm and is responsible for bringing the arms forward, drawing them toward the body’s midline and rotating them inward. Daryl Austin, USA Today, 1 Feb. 2026 Pull your breastbone toward the bar by bending your elbows. Greg Presto, Outside, 7 Jan. 2026 Wilson is diagnosed with stage II thymoma, a rare form of cancer of the thymus gland, located behind the breastbone. Jessica Sager, PEOPLE, 16 Nov. 2025 Amy touched her forehead, her breastbone, both shoulders. Literary Hub, 15 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for breastbone

Word History

First Known Use

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of breastbone was before the 12th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Breastbone.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/breastbone. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.

Kids Definition

breastbone

noun
breast·​bone ˈbres(t)-ˈbōn How to pronounce breastbone (audio)
-ˌbōn

Medical Definition

breastbone

noun
breast·​bone ˈbres(t)-ˈbōn, -ˌbōn How to pronounce breastbone (audio)

More from Merriam-Webster on breastbone

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