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Synonyms

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.


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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of structural

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

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.

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever called energy a “top priority” ahead of the summit, adding that Europe faces deep trouble if the jump in energy prices becomes structural.

From The Wall Street Journal

A long-term disruption would stall production expansions in Qatar, forcing the global market into a structural reckoning.

From The Wall Street Journal

It hides a structural transition behind a single percentage point.

From MarketWatch

A sober reading of the U.A.E.’s structural position reveals a story of resilience, not decline.

From The Wall Street Journal

The issue isn’t a lack of effort or good faith — it’s structural.

From MarketWatch