scap·u·lar
ˈska-pyə-lər 
1
a
: a long wide band of cloth with an opening for the head worn front and back over the shoulders as part of a monastic habit
b
: a pair of small cloth squares joined by shoulder tapes and worn under the clothing on the breast and back as a sacramental and often also as a badge of a third order or confraternity
2
a
: scapula
b
: one of the feathers covering the base of a bird's wing see bird illustration
Examples of scapular in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Moira Ritter, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2024
My mother was a hard-shell peasant Catholic who had never read the Bible but believed fervently in rituals, icons, beads, scapulars, and above all the spiritual benefits of hardship.
—Lucy Sante, The New Yorker, 11 Nov. 2023
From a cardboard box, Butler chose a scapular and a rosary and put them in a plastic bag for a nurse to take to the patient’s bedside.
—Elizabeth Barber, The New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2020
Both pray the rosary daily, and Joe Borak wears a devotional scapular, similar to a necklace with religious text or pictures on both ends.
—Kristin E. Holmes, Philly.com, 11 Oct. 2017
It’s designed after an escapulário, or scapular in English, a religious garment originally worn by Christian monks.
—Alicia Delgallo, OrlandoSentinel.com, 26 Apr. 2017
Cori Ritchey, Men's Health, 11 Aug. 2023
Keep your arms in the scapular plan (a few degrees in front of your torso) and your forearms perpendicular to the ground.
—Brett Williams, Men's Health, 31 July 2023
The superior traps support your arms and raise your shoulder blades, the middle traps are essential for scapular retraction, while the inferior traps are responsible for scapular depression and rotation.
—Brett Williams, Men's Health, 21 June 2023
The researchers theorize that the scapular stabilization cues throughout the moves (when you’re told to bring your shoulder blades together or down), combined with the increase in core strength and endurance, can translate to upper-body strength improvements.
—Emily Abbate, SELF, 8 June 2021
The dumbbells should be touching the floor and your arms should be angled slightly in front of your torso (about 20 to 30 degrees) in the scapular plane.
—Men's Health, 9 Mar. 2023
The pull-apart can also help to stabilize the scapular muscles.
—Andi Breitowich, Women's Health, 8 Mar. 2023
He was limited to 156 innings over the last two seasons because of elbow inflammation and a scapular stress reaction.
—Dallas News, 22 Feb. 2023
This plane of motion (45 degrees in front of the body) is perfect for learning how to engage the scapular muscles, which are responsible for moving and supporting your shoulder blades.
—Genevieve Gyulavary Dpt, Outside Online, 29 Oct. 2022
Noun
Archaeologists also identified preserved wooden coffins, wooden crosses and scraps of silk scapulars, which are necklace-like devotional objects.
—Moira Ritter, Miami Herald, 5 Mar. 2024
My mother was a hard-shell peasant Catholic who had never read the Bible but believed fervently in rituals, icons, beads, scapulars, and above all the spiritual benefits of hardship.
—Lucy Sante, The New Yorker, 11 Nov. 2023
From a cardboard box, Butler chose a scapular and a rosary and put them in a plastic bag for a nurse to take to the patient’s bedside.
—Elizabeth Barber, The New Yorker, 14 Apr. 2020
Both pray the rosary daily, and Joe Borak wears a devotional scapular, similar to a necklace with religious text or pictures on both ends.
—Kristin E. Holmes, Philly.com, 11 Oct. 2017
It’s designed after an escapulário, or scapular in English, a religious garment originally worn by Christian monks.
—Alicia Delgallo, OrlandoSentinel.com, 26 Apr. 2017
Adjective
Face Pull 3 to 4 sets of 10 to 15 reps
Men's Health
Two movements that everyone needs to train for better shoulder health include external rotation (turning the hand away from the body) and scapular retraction (pulling the shoulder blades together).
—Cori Ritchey, Men's Health, 11 Aug. 2023
Keep your arms in the scapular plan (a few degrees in front of your torso) and your forearms perpendicular to the ground.
—Brett Williams, Men's Health, 31 July 2023
The superior traps support your arms and raise your shoulder blades, the middle traps are essential for scapular retraction, while the inferior traps are responsible for scapular depression and rotation.
—Brett Williams, Men's Health, 21 June 2023
The researchers theorize that the scapular stabilization cues throughout the moves (when you’re told to bring your shoulder blades together or down), combined with the increase in core strength and endurance, can translate to upper-body strength improvements.
—Emily Abbate, SELF, 8 June 2021
The dumbbells should be touching the floor and your arms should be angled slightly in front of your torso (about 20 to 30 degrees) in the scapular plane.
—Men's Health, 9 Mar. 2023
The pull-apart can also help to stabilize the scapular muscles.
—Andi Breitowich, Women's Health, 8 Mar. 2023
He was limited to 156 innings over the last two seasons because of elbow inflammation and a scapular stress reaction.
—Dallas News, 22 Feb. 2023
This plane of motion (45 degrees in front of the body) is perfect for learning how to engage the scapular muscles, which are responsible for moving and supporting your shoulder blades.
—Genevieve Gyulavary Dpt, Outside Online, 29 Oct. 2022
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'scapular.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English scapulare, from Late Latin, from Latin scapula shoulder
Adjective
New Latin scapularis, from scapula
First Known Use
Noun
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Adjective
1713, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of scapular was
in the 15th century
Phrases Containing scapular
Dictionary Entries Near scapular
Cite this Entry
“Scapular.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/scapular. Accessed 20 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
scapular
noun
scap·u·lar
ˈskap-yə-lər
1
: a long wide band of cloth with an opening for the head worn front and back over the shoulders by monks
2
: a pair of small cloth squares joined by shoulder tapes and worn under the clothing on the breast and back especially for religious purposes
Medical Definition
scapular
adjective
scap·u·lar
ˈskap-yə-lər
: of, relating to, or affecting the shoulder or scapula
a scapular fracture
More from Merriam-Webster on scapular
Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about scapular
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