What does collarbone mean?
The collarbone is one of the two slender bones — known anatomically as the clavicle — that run horizontally between the top of the breastbone and each shoulder blade, linking the arm to the trunk. It is the only long bone in the body oriented horizontally rather than vertically, and it serves as a strut holding the shoulder away from the chest so the arm can move freely. Because of its exposed position just beneath the skin at the base of the neck, it is the most frequently fractured bone in the body, typically broken in falls onto an outstretched hand or shoulder, especially in cycling, football, and other contact sports. In everyday English, collarbone is the standard lay term; clavicle belongs to medical and anatomical writing. Beyond injury reports, the word appears in fashion and descriptive prose, where phrases like 'a necklace resting against her bare collarbone' use it to mark elegance and poise.
nounThe collarbone is either of the two slender, roughly horizontal bones that connect the breastbone (sternum) to each shoulder blade, forming part of the shoulder girdle. It is the medical term for the clavicle and is the only long bone in the human body that lies horizontally.
- Either of the two bones joining the breastbone to the shoulder blades; the clavicle.
"She broke her collarbone when she fell from her bicycle on the gravel path."
"The cyclist cracked his collarbone in a spill during the final stage of the race."
"A delicate silver necklace rested against her bare collarbone."
Standard plural for referring to both bones together; occasionally written 'collar bones', but the closed compound is preferred.
"Swimmers often have prominent, well-defined collarbones."
The collarbone is the most commonly broken bone in the human body — and the only long bone that lies flat instead of upright.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of collarbone
Collarbone is a straightforward compound of the Old Norse-derived 'collar' (from Middle English 'coler', ultimately from Latin 'collare', meaning neckband) and 'bone', coined in English by the early 17th century to describe the bone lying where a collar sits around the neck. Its formal counterpart, 'clavicle', entered English in the 17th century from French 'clavicule', which traces back through Latin to Greek 'kleis' (key), so named because ancient anatomists thought the bone's curved shape resembled a key. The two words thus reflect parallel naming traditions: one descriptive of position, the other of shape.
How collarbone is actually used
Collarbone is the ordinary everyday term used in speech, journalism, and casual writing, whereas clavicle is preferred in anatomy, medicine, and technical contexts. The word is neutral in register and carries no particular connotation beyond its frequent association with injuries such as fractures from falls or sports accidents. Plural usage varies: 'collarbones' for both bones together, but 'collar bone' as two words also appears, though 'collarbone' is the standard modern form.
Easily confused with collarbone
Clavicle is the formal anatomical term for the same bone, while collarbone is the common everyday name.