Meaning & use

opposable

adjective·Academic

Able to be placed against one or more of the other fingers on the same hand.

See it in a sentence

An opposable thumb lets humans grip objects with precision and strength.

Chimpanzees have opposable thumbs, which help them grasp branches and tools.

A note on using this word

Opposable almost always describes thumbs, and it is central to how primates use their hands for grasping.

Words with a similar meaning

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