skeleton

1 of 2

noun

skel·​e·​ton ˈske-lə-tən 

1

: a usually rigid supportive or protective structure or framework of an organism

especially : the bony or more or less cartilaginous framework supporting the soft tissues and protecting the internal organs of a vertebrate

2

: something reduced to its minimum form or essential parts

3

: an emaciated person or animal

4

a

: something forming a structural framework

b

: the straight or branched chain or ring of atoms that forms the basic structure of an organic molecule

5

: something shameful and kept secret (as in a family)

—often used in the phrase skeleton in the closet

6

: a small sled that is ridden in a prone position and used especially in competition

also : the competition itself

skeletonic

ˌske-lə-ˈtä-nik 

adjective

Illustration of skeleton

• 1 skull
• 2 clavicle
• 3 scapula
• 4 sternum
• 5 humerus
• 6 pelvis
• 7 carpus
• 8 metacarpal bones
• 9 phalanges (fingers)
• 10 tibia
• 11 tarsus
• 12 metatarsal bones
• 13 phalanges (toes)
• 14 fibula
• 15 patella
• 16 femur
• 17 ulna
• 18 radius
• 19 spinal column
• 20 rib
• 21 orbit

skeleton

2 of 2

adjective

: of, consisting of, or resembling a skeleton

Synonyms of skeleton

Noun

• structure
• framework
• architecture

Examples of skeleton in a Sentence

Noun

They found the fossil skeleton of a mastodon.

He hung a plastic skeleton on the door for Halloween.

She was a skeleton after her illness.

Only the charred skeleton of the house remained after the fire.

We saw a skeleton of the report before it was published.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Questions have swirled around Peglar’s true identity since 1859, when the search party spotted a skeleton wearing clothing that did not match his rank but included his personal documents — some of the only documents to ever be recovered from the disaster. —Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 12 May 2026

Those cells are highly responsive to mechanical stress—the reason weight-bearing exercise strengthens the skeleton—and the device is designed to imitate that signal through subtle vibration. —Alice Gregory, Vogue, 11 May 2026

Adjective

Six weeks after his birth, Rivera and Dorsey gave the first glimpse at their newborn by posting a picture of him on Instagram in a skeleton Halloween costume. —Ariana Quihuiz, Peoplemag, 29 June 2023

Word History

Etymology

Noun

New Latin, from Greek, neuter of skeletos dried up; akin to Greek skellein to dry up, sklēros hard and perhaps to Old English sceald shallow

First Known Use

Noun

1578, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1778, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing skeleton

• axial skeleton
• skeleton key

Rhymes for skeleton

• gelatin
• cytoskeleton
• exoskeleton

Kids Definition

skeleton

1 of 2 noun

skel·​e·​ton ˈskel-ət-ᵊn 

1

: a firm supporting or protecting structure or framework of a living thing

especially : a framework made of bone or sometimes cartilage that supports the soft tissues and protects the internal organs of a vertebrate (as a fish or human being) compare endoskeleton, exoskeleton

2

: a very thin person or animal

3

: something forming a structural framework

skeleton

2 of 2 adjective

1

: of, consisting of, or resembling a skeleton

a skeleton hand

2

: consisting of the smallest possible number of persons who can get a job done

a skeleton crew

Medical Definition

skeleton

noun

skel·​e·​ton ˈskel-ət-ᵊn 

1

: a usually rigid supportive or protective structure or framework of an organism

especially : the bony or more or less cartilaginous framework supporting the soft tissues and protecting the internal organs of a vertebrate

2

: the straight or branched chain or ring of atoms that forms the basic structure of an organic molecule