hip bone

IPA/ˈhɪp bəʊn/
IPA/ˈhɪp bəʊn/

hip bone — noun

1. The wide, curved bone located on either side of the lower torso that forms part

1.nounA2
Definition

The wide, curved bone located on either side of the lower torso that forms part of the pelvic structure. In adults, three separate bones (the ilium, the ischium, and the pubis) fuse together to create this single bone, which helps support body weight during sitting and standing.

Example

Amara's hip bone fractured when she slipped on the wet kitchen floor.

subject of 'fractured' — common injury context

Diego needed six weeks of rest after cracking his left hip bone during rugby.

collocation: crack + body part

Common collocations
  • fractured hip bone
  • left / right hip bone
  • hip bone pain
  • hip bone fracture
  • hip bone replacement
  • prominent hip bones
  • sore hip bones
Synonyms
  • pelvic bone

    broader term; can refer to the whole pelvis rather than one side

  • innominate bone

    formal medical term for the hip bone, commonly used in anatomy textbooks

Grammar Patterns

the + hip bone(s)

possessor + hip bone(s)

Usage Note

The plural form 'hip bones' is common when referring to both sides of the pelvis (e.g., 'Her hip bones were sore after the long ride'). The singular refers to one specific side. In casual speech, people often say 'hip' to mean the area around the hip bone, but in medical or anatomical contexts, 'hip bone' specifies the bone itself.

Common Mistakes

The doctor said I broke my hip.
The doctor said I broke my hip bone.
'hip' can mean the whole joint area; 'hip bone' refers specifically to the bone.
She has wide hip bone.
She has wide hip bones.
when describing width or shape, use the plural because both sides of the pelvis are involved.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/1

'Hip bone' is the everyday English term for one side of the pelvic structure. 'Pelvic bone' is slightly broader — it can refer to any bone of the pelvis (including the sacrum) or the entire pelvis as a unit. 'Innominate bone' (literally 'unnamed bone') is the technical anatomical term used in medical textbooks and cadaver labs; learners will rarely need it outside formal study. 'Pelvis' names the whole ring-shaped structure formed by both hip bones plus the sacrum and coccyx. For example: 'The X-ray showed a crack in her left hip bone' (plain English, specific side). 'The anatomy exam tested the three parts of the innominate bone' (formal register, one side).

innominate bonepelvic bonepelvis

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • hip bone to thigh bone
  • break a hip bone

Prepositions

Etymology

Old EnglishMiddle EnglishEnglish

'Hip' comes from Old English 'hype', meaning the projecting part at the side of the body where the thigh joins the torso. 'Bone' comes from Old English 'bān', referring to the hard tissue forming the skeleton. The compound 'hip bone' has been used in English anatomical writing since at least the 15th century to name the large flaring bone of the pelvis.

First known use

12th century

12th century, in the meaning defined above