inner ear

noun

: the essential organ of hearing and equilibrium that is located in the temporal bone, is innervated by the auditory nerve, and includes the vestibule, the semicircular canals, and the cochlea

Examples of inner ear in a Sentence

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These symptoms occur because the brain receives conflicting information from the eyes and the balance organs in the inner ear. — Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 16 Oct. 2026 One possibility is sudden sensorineural hearing loss, which affects the inner ear. — Angela Haupt, Time, 16 Oct. 2026 The camera handles sight, and the phone's inertial measurement unit (IMU), a chip that senses tilt and motion, works like an inner ear for balance. — New Atlas, 13 Oct. 2026 The two older women developed a sensitivity to Ella's blood sugar the way a cat feels the weather change in its inner ear. — Danielle Parker, CBS News, 29 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for inner ear

Word History

First Known Use

1855, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of inner ear was in 1855

Rhymes for inner ear

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Browse Nearby Words

inner-direction
inner ear
inner endodermis
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Cite this Entry

“Inner ear.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/inner%20ear. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

inner ear

noun
: the part of the ear that is most important for hearing, is located in a cavity in the temporal bone, and contains the ends of the nerves which send nerve impulses concerned with hearing and balance to the brain

Medical Definition

inner ear

noun
: the essential part of the vertebrate organ of hearing and equilibrium that typically is located in the temporal bone, is innervated by the auditory nerve, and includes the vestibule, the semicircular canals, and the cochlea

called also internal ear

More from Merriam-Webster on inner ear

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about inner ear

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