Jointed describes something made of separate parts connected together so they can move or bend. Your skeleton is jointed: your elbow, knee, and finger bones connect at joints that let you bend and flex. A jointed fishing rod comes apart into sections for easy carrying, then snaps back together when you're ready to fish.

Toys and tools are often jointed to make them more useful or realistic. Action figures have jointed arms and legs so you can pose them in different positions. A jointed puppet moves naturally because its limbs bend at the shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees, just like a real person. Artists use jointed wooden mannequins to help them draw the human body in different poses.

Think of how a door swings on its hinges: that's a joint that allows movement. Insects have jointed legs made of several segments, which is why ants and beetles can climb over obstacles so easily. Without joints, everything would be stiff and immovable, like a statue carved from a single piece of stone.