hyoid

1 of 2

adjective

hy·​oid ˈhī-ˌȯid How to pronounce hyoid (audio)
: of or relating to the hyoid bone

hyoid

2 of 2

noun

less common variant of hyoid bone

: a U-shaped bone or complex of bones that is situated between the base of the tongue and the larynx and that supports the tongue, the larynx, and their muscles

Examples of hyoid in a Sentence

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Adjective
In a larger study of suicidal hangings of young-adults and middle-aged people in India, conducted from 2010 to 2013, hyoid damage was found in just 16 of 264 cases, or six percent. — Anchorage Daily News, 15 Aug. 2019 Mammals can thank their hyoid bones for their suctioning abilities. — Megan Schmidt, Discover Magazine, 29 Nov. 2018

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

New Latin hyoides hyoid bone

First Known Use

Adjective

1842, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of hyoid was in 1842

Phrases Containing hyoid

Rhymes for hyoid

See All Rhymes for hyoid

Browse Nearby Words

Hyodon
hyoid
hyoid bone
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Hyoid.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/hyoid. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Medical Definition

hyoid

adjective
hy·​oid ˈhī-ˌȯid How to pronounce hyoid (audio)
1
: of or relating to the hyoid bone
2
: of, relating to, or being the second postoral branchial arch from which the hyoid bone of the higher vertebrates is in part formed
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