What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
jaw
Example
He clenched his jaw in frustration. [jaw: noun]
Example
She was chewing gum and moving her jaw up and down. [jaw: noun]
Example
He jawed at the referee for making a bad call. [jaw: verb]
mandible
Example
The mandible is the largest and strongest bone in the human face. [mandible: noun]
Example
The mandibles of ants are used for carrying food and defending the colony. [mandibles: noun]
Example
After the car accident, he had to undergo mandibular surgery to fix his broken jaw. [mandibular: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Jaw is more commonly used than mandible in everyday language, especially in informal contexts. Mandible is more commonly used in scientific or medical contexts.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between jaw and mandible?
Mandible is more formal than jaw, as it is primarily used in technical or scientific contexts.
