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Meaning & use

skeletal

adjective·Academic

Last updated

UK/ˈskel.ə.təl/
US/ˈskel.ə.t̬əl/

Meanings

  1. adjectivebefore a noun

    Relating to the bones that form the frame of a body.

    Grammar: Used before a noun: skeletal system, skeletal remains.

    Patterns

    • skeletal system
    • skeletal remains
    • skeletal structure

    The X-ray showed a fracture in the skeletal system.

    Skeletal remains were found at the archaeological site.

    The skeletal structure of birds is adapted for flight.

  2. adjectivenot comparable

    Extremely thin, so that the bones are visible.

    Grammar: Used to describe a person or animal; not usually compared.

    Patterns

    • skeletal figure
    • skeletal appearance
    • look skeletal

    After months of illness, he looked skeletal.

    The stray dog was skeletal and weak.

    She had a skeletal frame from years of malnutrition.

  3. adjectivebefore a noun

    Reduced to only the most basic parts; minimal.

    Grammar: Often describes organizations or plans: a skeletal staff.

    Patterns

    • skeletal staff
    • skeletal crew
    • skeletal service

    The office operates with a skeletal staff during holidays.

    They offered only a skeletal outline of the proposal.

    The hospital kept a skeletal crew overnight.

Common combinations

skeletal system
The skeletal system includes all the bones in the body.
skeletal remains
Forensic experts examined the skeletal remains.
skeletal staff
The company maintained a skeletal staff during the pandemic.
skeletal outline
She wrote a skeletal outline before drafting the essay.

Synonyms and how they differ

bony
Describes something made of bone or having prominent bones; less formal than skeletal for thinness.
emaciated
Stronger and more medical; suggests severe thinness from illness or starvation.
minimal
Focuses on smallness or least amount; does not imply bones.

Opposites

fleshyplump

Word family

skeleton noun
The frame of bones in a body.
skeletally adverb
In a skeletal manner; rarely used.

Commonly confused: skeletal or skeleton?

skeletal vs skeleton

Skeleton is the noun; skeletal is the adjective. Say 'skeletal remains,' not 'skeleton remains.'

Practice

The charity ran its office with a _____ staff during the summer.

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