What does hamstring mean?
A hamstring is one of the strong tendons at the back of the knee, connecting the thigh muscles to the lower leg and allowing the knee to bend and the leg to straighten. The word is also used figuratively for a weak point that prevents a person or organization from acting effectively: a lack of funding may become a hamstring on a project, while an injured hamstring can hamper an athlete's performance. As a verb, “to hamstring” means to disable, cripple, or severely limit someone or something, whether physically or through restrictive rules, insufficient resources, or other obstacles. The term is common in British and American English, especially in sport, medicine, news, and political reporting. It is memorable because it combines the anatomical sense of a cord-like tendon with the broader idea of something that constrains power or movement.
One of the tendons at the back of the knee, connecting the thigh muscles to the bones of the lower leg. By extension, it can mean a weakness or limitation that prevents effective action.
"He has been training carefully since pulling his hamstring in the final."
The plural “hamstrings” usually refers collectively to the group of muscles and tendons at the back of the thigh.
To disable or severely limit a person, organization, system, or plan.
"The licensing requirements may hamstring smaller online businesses."
This use is often figurative and appears in formal reporting, particularly when discussing laws, regulations, finances, or institutional limitations.
The standard plural refers to the several tendons or muscles at the back of the thigh.
"Tight hamstrings can make running uncomfortable for beginners."
A hamstring is not a string of meat: it is one of the powerful tendons behind the knee, and figuratively it can be the weak point that brings down an entire system.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does hamstring come from?
The compound is formed from “ham,” in the anatomical sense of the back of the knee, and “string,” referring to a cord or binding. The element “ham” continues Old English “hama,” while “string” continues Old English “streng”; both have Germanic origins. The compound originally referred to the tendons behind the knee and later acquired the figurative sense of a source of weakness or restriction.
Related word forms
How hamstring is actually used
The noun is used both anatomically and figuratively. The verb is especially common in journalistic and political contexts, where it describes measures that leave an organization or project unable to operate effectively.