ShoulderThe body part between the neck and upper arm, also used in other senses. is a common English word with several meanings. It can refer to part of the body, a roadsideThe edge of a road where vehicles may stop or travel slowly. edge, a cut of meat, part of clothing, or the action of using or carryingTaking something from one place to another while holding it. something with the shoulder.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Pronunciation
AI-generated pronunciation audio (OpenAI).
Accent: General American English
IPA: /ˈʃoʊldɚ/
Easy pronunciation: SHOUL-dur (approximate spelling).
Stress: Stress is on the first syllable.
Noun meaning the body area between the neck and the upper arm.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Shoulder Meaning
the body area where your arm joins your upper body
Part of speech: noun
Definition: the part of the body between the neck and the upper arm
Example: She rested her hand on his shoulder.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- shoulder joint — Only if the meaning is the joint itself, not the whole body area.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Other Meanings of Shoulder
Meaning 2
the joint where the arm connects to the shoulder area
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a ball-and-socket joint between the head of the humerus and a cavity of the scapula
Example: He injured his shoulder joint while playing tennis.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- articulatio humeri — Technical anatomical term for the joint.
- shoulder joint — Direct synonym for the joint sense.
Meaning 3
the strip at the side of a road
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a narrow edge of land (usually unpaved) along the side of a road
Example: The driver pulled onto the shoulder of the highway.
Synonyms for this meaning:
- berm — A road-edge strip; used in this sense in some contexts.
Meaning 4
a meat cut from the shoulder area of an animal
Part of speech: noun
Definition: a cut of meat including the upper joint of the foreleg
Example: We roasted a shoulder of lamb for dinner.
Meaning 5
to take on a burden or responsibility
Part of speech: verb
Definition: carry a burden, either real or metaphoric
Example: She had to shoulder the responsibility for the mistake.
Meaning 6
to raise something and put it on your shoulders
Part of speech: verb
Definition: lift onto one's shoulders
Example: He shouldered the child so she could see the parade.
Meaning 7
to push through a crowd or against something using your shoulder
Part of speech: verb
Definition: push with the shoulders
Example: He shouldered his way through the crowd.
Meaning 8
the section of clothing that lies over the shoulder
Part of speech: noun
Definition: the part of a garment that covers or fits over the shoulder
Example: The jacket has padded shoulders.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: uncertain — manual review needed. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Shoulder Synonyms
Similar Meaning
- shoulder joint
the body area between the neck and upper arm
- shoulder joint
the joint where the arm connects to the body
- articulatio humeri
- shoulder joint
the side of a road
- berm
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: inaccurate — correction needed. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Common Mistakes
- Using shoulder to mean only the joint when you mean the whole upper body area.
- Confusing the road shoulder with the body shoulder.
- Using anatomical terms like articulatio humeri in everyday conversation.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does shoulder mean?
Shoulder can mean the body area between your neck and upper arm, the joint itself, the side of a road, a meat cut, a clothing part, or a verb meaning to carry or push with the shoulder.
What are the most common shoulder synonyms?
For the body sense, the closest simple synonym is usually shoulder joint when you mean the joint specifically. For the road sense, berm is a possible synonym in some contexts.
Is shoulder always a noun?
No. Shoulder is often a noun, but it is also a verb, as in shoulder a burden or shoulder your way through a crowd.
Reviewed with OpenAI Decisions. Assessment: accurate. Checked: 2026-10-24. AI assessment; not a guarantee of accuracy.