exoskeleton
Americannoun
noun
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A hard, protective outer body covering of an animal, such as an insect, crustacean, or mollusk. The exoskeletons of insects and crustaceans are largely made of chitin.
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Compare endoskeleton
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of exoskeleton
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How does exoskeleton compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:
Vocabulary lists containing exoskeleton
Animals (Zoology) - Introductory
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Animals (Zoology) - Middle School
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Biology-Structure and Function - Introductory
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The street has become such a maze that it’s unclear what’s even there, resulting in a series of “Businesses Open” signs assuring the public that something still exists inside the chain-link exoskeleton.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
The hip-based exoskeleton uses AI software to interpret movements, providing mechanical force that aids uphill climbs and walking in sand.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 21, 2026
Going uphill, with the torque notched up, I really felt the exoskeleton at work.
From The Wall Street Journal ● May 21, 2026
The animal measured just over 8 centimeters long and preserved a dorsal exoskeleton made up of a head shield and nine body segments.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 3, 2026
It was the exact opposite: a slender, transparent concoction of black plastic and odd protuberances and mesh that looked like the exoskeleton of a giant prehistoric insect.
From "Blink" by Malcolm Gladwell
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
