structural

adjective

struc·​tur·​al ˈstrək-chə-rəl 

ˈstrək-shrəl

1

: of or relating to the physical makeup of a plant or animal body

structural defects of the heart

2

a

: of, relating to, or affecting structure

structural stability

b

: used in building structures

structural clay

c

: involved in or caused by structure especially of the economy

structural unemployment

3

: of, relating to, or resulting from the effects of folding or faulting of the earth's crust : tectonic

4

: concerned with or relating to structure rather than history or comparison

structural linguistics

structurally adverb

Examples of structural in a Sentence

The house suffered no structural damage.

Recent Examples on the Web

Two powerful earthquakes struck Venezuela’s central and coastal regions on Wednesday just 39 seconds apart, triggering scenes of panic in Caracas and other cities as preliminary reports of structural damage and injuries began to emerge. — Antonio María Delgado, Miami Herald, 25 June 2026

The National Institute of Standards and Technology said long-term corrosion and the failure of multiple slab-to-column connections likely contributed to a progressive collapse after weeks of structural deterioration. — Sergio Candido, CBS News, 24 June 2026

Three structural fixes would convert most opposition into grudging acceptance, and even a meaningful share of that opposition into active support. — Warren Wimmer, Mercury News, 24 June 2026

But Turner itself was changing, a casualty of structural shifts occurring across the entertainment industry. — Savannah Sicurella, AJC.com, 24 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Phrases Containing structural

• structural formula
• structural gene
• structural isomer
• structural racism
• structural steel

Rhymes for structural

• infrastructural
• microstructural
• ultrastructural
• nonstructural

Kids Definition

structural

adjective

struc·​tur·​al ˈstrək-chə-rəl 

ˈstrək-shrəl

1

: of, relating to, or affecting structure

structural weaknesses

2

: used or formed for use in construction

structural steel

structurally

-ē

adverb

Medical Definition

structural

adjective

struc·​tur·​al ˈstrək-chə-rəl, ˈstrək-shrəl 

1

: of or relating to the physical makeup of a plant or animal body

structural defects of the heart

compare functional sense 1a

2

: of, relating to, or affecting structure

structural stability

structurally

-ē 

adverb