ball-and-socket joint

noun

A joint in which one segment has a rounded end and the next segment has a bowl-shaped end, with the rounded end being fitted into the bowl shape, allowing the first segment to move around an indefinite number of axes which have one common center. Examples include the human shoulder joint and the balljoints of some automotive suspensions.

Similar
enarthrosisballjointspheroid jointcotyloid jointenarthrodial jointarticulatio spheroidea
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Meanings

nounball-and-socket joint (plural ball-and-socket joints)

plural ball-and-socket joints · alternative ball and socket joint

  1. A joint in which one segment has a rounded end and the next segment has a bowl-shaped end, with the rounded end being fitted into the bowl shape, allowing the first segment to move around an indefinite number of axes which have one common center. Examples include the human shoulder joint and the balljoints of some automotive suspensions.

    Synonyms: enarthrosis, balljoint

Synonyms & antonyms

nounA joint in which one segment has a rounded end and the next segment has a bowl-shaped end, with the rounded end being fitted into the bowl shape, allowing the first segment to move around an indefinite number of axes which have one common center. Examples include the human shoulder joint and the balljoints of some automotive suspensions.

Similar
enarthrosisballjoint

More synonyms by meaning

nouna freely moving joint in which a sphere on the head of one bone fits into a rounded cavity in the other bone

Similar
spheroid jointcotyloid jointenarthrodial jointenarthrosisarticulatio spheroidea
Broader
synovial jointarticulatio synovialisdiarthrosis
Also see
enarthrosis

Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.

Translations

Bulgarian ябълкова става
  • ябълкова става (jabălkova stava)type of joint
Danish kugleled
  • kugleledtype of joint
Dutch kogelgewricht
  • kogelgewrichttype of joint
Finnish pallonivel
  • palloniveltype of joint
French rotule
  • rotuletype of joint
German Kugelgelenk
  • Kugelgelenktype of joint
Hungarian gömbcsukló, gömbízület
  • gömbcsuklótype of joint
  • gömbízülettype of joint
Icelandic kúluliður
  • kúluliðurtype of joint
Indonesian sendi peluru
  • sendi pelurutype of joint
Malay sendi lesung
  • sendi lesungtype of joint
Māori pona kapunga
  • pona kapungatype of joint
Norwegian Bokmål kuleledd
  • kuleleddtype of joint
Swedish kulled
  • kulledtype of joint
Tagalog tumbok-salo
  • tumbok-salotype of joint
Cite this entry
APA

ball-and-socket joint. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ball-and-socket%20joint

MLA

“ball-and-socket joint.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ball-and-socket%20joint. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ball-and-socket joint,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ball-and-socket%20joint.

Source: ball-and-socket joint on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.