Jaw vs. Chin — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on November 5, 2023
The jaw is a set of bones that forms the structure of the mouth and supports the teeth; the chin is the protruding part of the face below the mouth.
Difference Between Jaw and Chin
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Key Differences
The jaw is comprised of a lower and an upper part; the lower part is the movable mandible, and the upper part is the fixed maxilla. The chin, or mental protuberance, is the pointed part of the anterior mandible below the lower lip. A person clenches their jaw when stressed, while they might stroke their chin when thinking deeply.
Both the jaw and chin contribute to facial aesthetics and function. The jaw plays a critical role in mastication and speech, while the chin does not have a direct functional role but can influence speech resonance. A blow to the jaw can cause dislocation or concussion, whereas a hit to the chin might result in bruising or a laceration.
The jaw can refer to either side of the face where it extends up to the ear, and it's essential for dental health. The chin, however, does not extend beyond the lower facial region and is often a point of cosmetic concern or enhancement. Dental procedures often involve the jaw, such as when treating temporomandibular joint disorders, but rarely involve the chin unless it is cosmetic surgery.
Developmentally, the jaw bones are subject to change throughout life due to dental growth and loss, while the chin remains relatively the same post-puberty. In orthodontics, the jaw is often the focus for correcting bite issues, whereas the chin may be considered when addressing overall facial harmony.
In terms of expression, movements of the jaw can indicate emotions like anger or determination, and the chin can display resilience or stubbornness when jutted forward. The jaw sets the foundation for facial expressions, while the chin often complements those expressions, giving additional character to the face.
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Comparison Chart
Anatomy
Consists of upper and lower bones.
The forward portion of the lower jaw.
Function
Supports teeth, chewing, and speaking.
Aesthetic and expressive purposes.
Location
Extends from the chin to the ear.
Central part below the lower lip.
Movement
Lower jaw is movable.
No independent movement.
Medical Concerns
Subject to TMJ disorders, fractures.
Prone to bruising or laceration.
Compare with Definitions
Jaw
The part of the skull that holds the teeth.
The dentist examined her jaw for any signs of misalignment.
Chin
The protruding part of the face below the mouth.
He had a small scar on his chin from shaving.
Jaw
The area of the face below the cheekbone.
He rested his hand on his jaw while deep in thought.
Chin
To do an exercise where you pull yourself up to a bar.
He chinned himself ten times at the gym.
Jaw
The jaw is any opposable articulated structure at the entrance of the mouth, typically used for grasping and manipulating food. The term jaws is also broadly applied to the whole of the structures constituting the vault of the mouth and serving to open and close it and is part of the body plan of humans and most animals.
Chin
A colloquial term for conversation.
Let's have a chin about the plans for the weekend.
Jaw
Either of two bony or cartilaginous structures that in most vertebrates form the framework of the mouth and hold the teeth.
Chin
The lower extremity of a person's face.
The helmet strap secured tightly under his chin.
Jaw
The mandible or maxilla or the part of the face covering these bones.
Chin
The human chin (also known as the mental protuberance, mental eminence and, rarely, mental osseum, tuber symphyseos) refers to the forward pointed part of the anterior mandible (mental region) below the lower lip. A fully developed human skull has a chin of between 0.7 cm and 1.1 cm.
Jaw
Any of various structures of invertebrates that have an analogous function to vertebrate jaws.
Chin
The central forward portion of the lower jaw.
Jaw
Either of two opposed hinged parts in a mechanical device.
Chin
To pull (oneself) up with the arms while grasping an overhead horizontal bar until the chin is level with or above the bar.
Jaw
Jaws The walls of a pass, canyon, or cavern.
Chin
(Music) To place (a violin) under the chin in preparation to play it.
Jaw
Jaws A dangerous situation or confrontation
The jaws of death.
Chin
To chin oneself.
Jaw
Impudent argument or back talk
Don't give me any jaw.
Chin
(Informal) To make idle conversation; chatter.
Jaw
A conversation or chat.
Chin
The bottom of a face, the typically jutting jawline below the mouth.
Jaw
To talk vociferously; jabber.
Chin
Talk.
Jaw
To talk; converse.
Chin
A lie, a falsehood.
Jaw
One of the bones, usually bearing teeth, which form the framework of the mouth.
Chin
A person of the upper class.
Jaw
The part of the face below the mouth.
His jaw dropped in amazement.
Chin
The ability to withstand being punched in the chin without being knocked out.
Jaw
(figuratively) Anything resembling the jaw of an animal in form or action; especially plural, the mouth or way of entrance.
The jaws of a pass; the jaws of darkness; the jaws of death.
Chin
(aviation) The lower part of the front of an aircraft, below the nose.
Jaw
A notch or opening.
Chin
The bottom part of a mobile phone, below the screen.
Jaw
A notched or forked part, adapted for holding an object in place.
The jaw of a railway-car pedestal.
Chin
(informal) A chinchilla.
Jaw
One of a pair of opposing parts which are movable towards or from each other, for grasping or crushing anything between them.
The jaws of a vise; the jaws of a stone-crushing machine.
Chin
To talk.
Jaw
(nautical) The inner end of a boom or gaff, hollowed in a half circle so as to move freely on a mast.
Chin
To talk to or with (someone).
Jaw
Impudent, abusive or worthless talk.
Chin
To perform a chin-up exercise in which one lifts one's own weight while hanging from a bar.
Jaw
(slang) Axle guard.
Chin
To punch or hit (someone)'s chin part of the body.
Jaw
(snooker) The curved part of the cushion marking the entry to the pocket.
Chin
(transitive) To put or hold (a musical instrument) up to one's chin.
Jaw
(transitive) To assail or abuse by scolding.
Chin
(transitive) To turn on or operate (a device) using one's chin; to select (a particular setting) using one's chin.
Jaw
(intransitive) To scold; to clamor.
Chin
(transitive) To put one's chin on (something).
Jaw
To talk; to converse.
Chin
(transitive) To indicate or point toward (someone or something) with one's chin.
Jaw
(of a ball) To stick in the jaws of a pocket.
Chin
The lower extremity of the face below the mouth; the point of the under jaw.
Jaw
(used in certain set phrases like jaw harp, jaw harpist and jaw's-trump)
Chin
The exterior or under surface embraced between the branches of the lower jaw bone, in birds.
Jaw
One of the bones, usually bearing teeth, which form the framework of the mouth.
Chin
The protruding part of the lower jaw
Jaw
Fig.: Anything resembling the jaw of an animal in form or action; esp., pl., the mouth or way of entrance; as, the jaws of a pass; the jaws of darkness; the jaws of death.
Chin
Kamarupan languages spoken in western Burma and Bangladesh and easternmost India
Jaw
A notch or opening.
Chin
In gymnastics: raise oneself while hanging from one's hands until one's chin is level with the support bar
Jaw
The inner end of a boom or gaff, hollowed in a half circle so as to move freely on a mast.
Chin
Slang for personal confidence or audacity.
She's got the chin to face any challenge.
Jaw
Impudent or abusive talk.
Jaw
To scold; to clamor.
Jaw
To talk idly, long-windedly, or without special purpose.
Jaw
To assail or abuse by scolding.
Jaw
The part of the skull of a vertebrate that frames the mouth and holds the teeth
Jaw
The bones of the skull that frame the mouth and serve to open it; the bones that hold the teeth
Jaw
Holding device consisting of one or both of the opposing parts of a tool that close to hold an object
Jaw
Talk socially without exchanging too much information;
The men were sitting in the cafe and shooting the breeze
Jaw
Talk incessantly and tiresomely
Jaw
Chew (food);
He jawed his bubble gum
Chew your food and don't swallow it!
The cows were masticating the grass
Jaw
Censure severely or angrily;
The mother scolded the child for entering a stranger's car
The deputy ragged the Prime Minister
The customer dressed down the waiter for bringing cold soup
Jaw
A tool's clamping part.
He tightened the vise's jaw to hold the wood in place.
Jaw
One of the opposable parts of a bird's beak.
The parrot cracked the seed open with its strong jaw.
Jaw
To talk, especially in a gossiping manner.
They sat on the porch jawing about the town's news.
Common Curiosities
Is the chin part of the jaw?
Yes, the chin is the forward part of the lower jaw.
What does a strong jaw indicate?
It often indicates a strong bone structure or genetics.
Is jaw pain connected to chin issues?
Rarely, as chin issues are usually cosmetic, not functional.
Do all humans have a prominent chin?
Prominence of the chin varies greatly among individuals.
Can you dislocate your chin?
No, dislocation occurs in the jaw joint, not the chin.
Can you tell emotion from the jaw or chin?
Yes, tension in the jaw or a jutted chin can indicate emotions.
Is the term 'double chin' related to the jaw?
Indirectly, as it refers to excess fat beneath the lower jaw.
Can jawline exercises change the shape of my chin?
They might alter the appearance slightly by toning muscles.
Are jaw exercises good for the chin?
They can strengthen muscles, potentially improving chin appearance.
Do braces affect the jaw or the chin?
Braces affect the jaw alignment which can indirectly affect chin position.
What is a cleft chin?
It's a chin with a dimple in the middle, often genetic.
Can a broken jaw affect chin symmetry?
Yes, because the jaw supports the chin, a break can alter symmetry.
Is chin augmentation related to the jaw?
Yes, as it often involves modifying the jaw bone for cosmetic reasons.
Does the jaw grow with age?
The jaw can change due to teeth and bone density changes.
Are there any exercises to define the jaw and chin?
Yes, there are facial exercises aimed at defining the jawline and chin area.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
