exoskeleton

American  

[ek-soh-skel-i-tn] / ˌɛk soʊˈskɛl ɪ tn /

noun

Zoology.

1. an external covering or integument, especially when hard, as the shells of crustaceans (opposed to endoskeleton).

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exoskeleton British  

/ ˌɛksəʊˈskɛlɪtən /

noun

1. the protective or supporting structure covering the outside of the body of many animals, such as the thick cuticle of arthropods Compare endoskeleton

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exoskeleton Scientific  

/ ĕk′sō-skĕl′ĭ-tn /

1. 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.

2. Compare endoskeleton

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Other Word Forms

• exoskeletal adjective

Etymology

Origin of exoskeleton

First recorded in 1840–50; exo- + skeleton

Compare meaning

How does exoskeleton compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• endoskeleton vs. exoskeleton

Example Sentences

The cuticle forms the protective outer layer of an ant's exoskeleton.

From Science Daily • Mar. 10, 2026

“A legged battlefield robot or an exoskeleton suit relies on the same core technologies as a commercial humanoid, ruggedized for combat.”

From MarketWatch • Jan. 14, 2026

After trying out an Ascentiz exoskeleton, Trevor Bills, a Canadian entrepreneur visiting CES, was quite impressed.

From Barron's • Jan. 8, 2026

This wasn’t quite the little white empire-line muslin dress familiar from Jane Austen costume dramas, but it was heading that way from the exoskeleton corsetry of the ancien régime.

From Slate • Jul. 21, 2025

“A mouse genetically modified with a hard exoskeleton that it can shed and leave anywhere!”

From "Boy 2.0" by Tracey Baptiste