noun

kneecap

NEE-kap

noun

The small, flat, roughly round bone at the front of the knee joint; the patella.

"The impact fractured his kneecap."

verb

To deliberately cripple someone by shooting or injuring their knees, historically used as a punishment by paramilitary groups.

"Paramilitaries were known to kneecap informers as a warning to others."

To badly and unnecessarily damage a plan, project, or person's chances.

"The new tax rules effectively kneecapped small businesses before they could get started."

How to Use Kneecap

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishLiterally the kneecap bone, or, figuratively, to badly cripple someone's plans or chances.

Common pairings

a fractured kneecap kneecap the deal kneecap someone's chances

kneecapped past tense, kneecaps plural, kneecaps singular

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The impact fractured his _____.

From knee + cap, describing the cap-shaped bone that sits over the knee joint.

recap