connective tissue

noun

: a tissue of mesodermal origin that consists of various cells (such as fibroblasts and macrophages) and interlacing protein fibers (as of collagen) embedded in a chiefly carbohydrate ground substance, that supports, ensheathes, and binds together other tissues, and that includes loose and dense forms (such as adipose tissue, tendons, ligaments, and aponeuroses) and specialized forms (such as cartilage and bone)

Examples of connective tissue in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Any region with a handful of anchor institutions, a base of founders and someone willing to be the connective tissue can build this. — Jennifer Hoffmann, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026

The brand would have existed, of course, but the connective tissue would have been broken. — Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 6 Oct. 2026

Björk has long made the case for fashion as connective tissue between sound, body, nature, technology, and fantasy. — Mosha Lundström Halbert, Vogue, 4 Oct. 2026

The book is vignettes of people’s lives without much connective tissue. — Elisabeth Garber-Paul, Rolling Stone, 3 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1846, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for connective tissue

• accrue
• ado
• ainu
• aircrew
• airscrew
• anew
• askew
• baboo
• babu
• bamboo
• beaucoup
• bijou

Kids Definition

connective tissue

noun

: a tissue (as bone, cartilage, or tendon) that forms a supporting framework for the body or its parts and has protein fibers between the cells composing it

Medical Definition

connective tissue

noun

con·​nec·​tive tissue kə-ˌnek-tiv- 

: a tissue of mesodermal origin that consists of various cells (as fibroblasts and macrophages) and interlacing protein fibers (as of collagen) embedded in a chiefly carbohydrate ground substance, that supports, ensheathes, and binds together other tissues, and that includes loose and dense forms (as adipose tissue, tendons, ligaments, and aponeuroses) and specialized forms (as cartilage and bone)