bare-bones

1 of 2

adjective

ˈber-ˈbōnz 

: including only what is most basic or necessary

a bare-bones email program

Skyscrapers of steel hung with curtain walls of glass, these sleek buildings were impressive monuments to bare-bones architectural integrity.

—C. A. Mills

bare bones

2 of 2

plural noun

: the barest essentials, facts, or elements

the bare bones of her life

Examples of bare-bones in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Spirit’s 2024 Pivot to Attract New Customers In 2024, Spirit Airlines moved away from its bare-bones, ultra-low-cost roots in a bid to win over higher-spending travelers, much in the same way that Southwest Airlines is currently doing. —Will McGough, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025

The company’s six plans go from bare-bones to bumper-to-bumper, with options for high-mileage vehicles and benefits that cover routine maintenance like oil changes and brake pad replacements. —Brian Sloan, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2025

Plural noun

Currently, the space is bare bones and still being built. —Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 20 Aug. 2025

Wan’s ice cream bar is purposefully bare bones—a single counter with stainless steel wells holding a rotation of limited-run flavors. —Clarissa Wei, AFAR Media, 13 May 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1868, in the meaning defined above

Plural Noun

1647, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bare-bones

• anticyclones
• allophones
• chaperones
• cobblestones
• cornerstones
• francophones
• gramophones
• hydrophones
• microphones
• overtones
• pheromones
• quinolones