shoulder blade

noun

plural shoulder blades
: either of a pair of large, flat, triangular-shaped bones that lie above the rib cage on either side of the upper back : scapula
a fractured shoulder blade
He has a wing-shaped tribal tattoo between his shoulder blades.Cliff Mehrtens
… types who didn't wash and grew hair to their shoulder blades.Curtis W. Casewit

Examples of shoulder blade 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.
In a new study published in Science this month, a team of biologists used tiny tags attached between bats’ shoulder blades to track their movements. Sara Hashemi, Smithsonian Magazine, 14 Jan. 2025 Focus on using your back and shoulder muscles — squeeze your shoulder blades together at the top — and avoid rotating your chest and shoulders. Hilary Achauer, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2025 Shoulders Dynamic: Shoulder Rolls With your arms by your sides or outstretched, draw your shoulders up towards your ears, then down your back, feeling your shoulder blades rise and lower. Alyssa Ages, Outside Online, 13 Dec. 2024 All of this can lead to pain in the back of the shoulder and shoulder blades, as well as tightness and sensitivity in the chest, among other issues. Deborah Vankin, Los Angeles Times, 21 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for shoulder blade 

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of shoulder blade was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near shoulder blade

Cite this Entry

“Shoulder blade.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shoulder%20blade. Accessed 11 Feb. 2025.

Kids Definition

shoulder blade

noun
: the flat triangular bone of the back of the shoulder that forms a joint with the humerus of the upper arm

called also scapula

Medical Definition

shoulder blade

noun

More from Merriam-Webster on shoulder blade

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!