structural

American  

[struhk-cher-uhl] / ˈstrʌk tʃər əl /

adjective

1. of or relating to structure; relating or essential to a structure.

2. resulting from or relating to political or economic structure: structural inequalities;

   structural reforms to the social safety net;

   structural inequalities;

   structural racism.

3. Biology. relating to organic structure; morphological.

4. Geology. of or relating to geological structure, as of rock or strata.

5. Chemistry. relating to or showing the arrangement or mode of attachment of the atoms that constitute a molecule of a substance.

6. of, relating to, or based on the assumption that the elements of a field of study are naturally arranged in a systematic structure.

   structural grammar.

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noun

1. Building Trades.

   1. a part of a structure that carries a load.

   2. the structural member used for such a part.

structural British  

/ ˈstrʌktʃərəl /

adjective

1. of, relating to, or having structure or a structure

2. of, relating to, or forming part of the structure of a building

3. of or relating to the structure and deformation of rocks and other features of the earth's crust

4. of or relating to the structure of organisms; morphological

5. chem of, concerned with, caused by, or involving the arrangement of atoms in molecules

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonstructural
  adjective
• unstructurally
  adverb
• unstructural
  adjective
• nonstructurally
  adverb
• structurally
  adverb

Etymology

Origin of structural

First recorded in 1825–35; structure + -al ¹

Explanation

When you're talking about something structural you're talking about the way it's built. The simple look of a building can mask its complex structural design. A skeleton is the structural framework of a body. While we all look different on the outside, for the most part, we all share the same structural components — we're built the same way. Some buildings, such as the Eiffel Tower, reveal their structural design completely. They are nothing but structure. Other buildings work hard to hide their structural qualities. You can discuss the structural nature of ideas too, as in "structural economics" or even human relationships.

Example Sentences

Impaired immune function, developmental disabilities, learning disabilities, delayed physical development, poor muscle tone, structural issues with face, decreased lifespan, etc.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 5, 2026

“We still see central-bank buying as the strongest structural force in the gold market and expect Western-world investment demand to pick up again,” he says.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026

America’s current structural weakness against supply disruptions impairs its geopolitical position and gives U.S. adversaries a tempting target.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 3, 2026

Mobile UK, which represents the major phone providers, said there were "unique structural and capacity challenges" to keeping good train signal.

From BBC • Jun. 3, 2026

Architecture’s parameters are defined by utilitarian function and structural system, but there is almost always an aesthetic component as well, even when it consists of nothing more than a decorative veneer.

From "History of Art, Volume 1" by H.W. Janson

Related Words

• anatomical
• architectural
• basic
• constitutional
• skeletal