navicular

1 of 2

adjective

na·​vic·​u·​lar nə-ˈvi-kyə-lər 

1

: shaped like a boat

a navicular bone

2

: of, relating to, or involving a navicular bone

navicular disease

navicular

2 of 2

noun

: a navicular bone:

a

: one situated on the big-toe side of the tarsus in humans

called also scaphoid

b

: scaphoid sense 2

c

: one situated in the hoof of a horse behind the coffin bone

Examples of navicular in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

After breaking the navicular bone in his foot in a Week 4 football game at Wheaton Warrenville South, Wendell missed the rest of the football season and the entire basketball season. —Patrick Z. McGavin, Chicago Tribune, 23 Apr. 2026

The diagnosis includes a sprain of the accessory navicular, a partial ligament tear, and a talus contusion with ligament damage and inflammation. —Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 20 Mar. 2026

Noun

The navicular is covered by cartilage and lacks a rich blood supply, causing a slow recovery process. —David Woods, The Indianapolis Star, 4 Nov. 2021

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English naviculare, from Latin navicula boat, diminutive of navis

Noun

New Latin (os) naviculare a navicular bone

First Known Use

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for navicular

• acicular
• articular
• curricular
• cuticular
• funicular
• lenticular
• particular
• radicular
• reticular
• testicular
• vehicular
• acromioclavicular

Medical Definition

navicular

1 of 2 noun

na·​vic·​u·​lar nə-ˈvik-yə-lər 

variants or navicular bone

: a boat-shaped bone:

a

: the one of the seven tarsal bones of the human foot that is situated on the big-toe side between the talus and the cuneiform bones

called also scaphoid

b

: scaphoid sense 2

c

: a small bone enclosed within the hoof of the horse behind the junction of the coffin bone and short pastern bone

navicular

2 of 2 adjective

1

: resembling or having the shape of a boat

navicular cells

2

: of, relating to, or involving a navicular bone

navicular fractures