skeletal

[skel-i-tl]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or like a skeleton.

Other Word Forms

• skeletally adverb
• nonskeletal adjective
• nonskeletally adverb
• pseudoskeletal adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of skeletal¹

First recorded in 1850–55; skelet(on) + -al ¹

Example Sentences

She said Reggie was born with a number of health complications, including oesophageal atresia and skeletal dysplasia, meaning he will have to have both legs amputated.

From BBC

The firestorms engulfed 59 square miles of Southern California — more than twice the size of Manhattan — transforming entire city blocks in Altadena and Pacific Palisades into corridors of ashes, twisted metal and skeletal trees.

From Los Angeles Times

The skeletal remains of a man who went missing six years ago were found by a walker in a secluded area in south Wales, an inquest has heard.

From BBC

Hems, inseams, darts and vents are all details hidden beneath the surface of a garment, but much like the body’s skeletal system, they make up the essential, inconspicuous infrastructure on which a suit hangs.

From Los Angeles Times

Slash, or, rather, a skeletal facsimile of him played by an actor, will be available for photo opportunities and meet and greets at Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights, which runs most evenings through Nov. 2.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bony 
• emaciated