: 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
C. A. Mills
: the barest essentials, facts, or elements
the bare bones of her life
Examples of bare-bones in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the WebRonald J. Hansen, The Arizona Republic, 8 July 2024
Mulligan’s bare-bones budget puts off $5 billion in system expansion, a figure that includes grants from Phase 2 of the Second Ave. subway.
—Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 26 June 2024
Jack Irvin, Peoplemag, 12 July 2024
Expect all things darts, pool, a bare bones bar food menu and occasional live music.
—Kayleigh Ruller, Charlotte Observer, 24 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for bare-bones 
Adjective
His bare-bones website notes a professional background in shipping and transportation and past support for Republicans and Democrats.
—Ronald J. Hansen, The Arizona Republic, 8 July 2024
Mulligan’s bare-bones budget puts off $5 billion in system expansion, a figure that includes grants from Phase 2 of the Second Ave. subway.
—Evan Simko-Bednarski, New York Daily News, 26 June 2024
Plural noun
Juno was made entirely in COVID in home studios with not very much equipment, very bare bones.
—Jack Irvin, Peoplemag, 12 July 2024
Expect all things darts, pool, a bare bones bar food menu and occasional live music.
—Kayleigh Ruller, Charlotte Observer, 24 June 2024
See all Example Sentences for bare-bones
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'bare-bones.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near bare-bones
Cite this Entry
“Bare-bones.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bare-bones. Accessed 27 Jul. 2024.
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