distal

UK: /ˈdɪst^əl/ US: (dis′tl)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

dis•tal  (dis′tl), adj. 

1. situated away from the point of origin or attachment, as of a limb or bone;
   terminal. Cf. proximal.
2. Dentistry directed away from the sagittal plane or midline of the face, along the dental arch. Cf. buccal (def. 3), mesial (def. 2).

• dist(ant) + -al¹ 1800–10

dis′tal•ly, adv. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

distal / ˈdɪst^əl/ adjective

1. (of a muscle, bone, limb, etc) situated farthest from the centre, median line, or point of attachment or origin
   Compare proximal

Etymology: 19th Century: from distant + -al¹

ˈdistally adverb