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

Follow the steps below to create your own bare-bones budget. —Jasmin Suknanan, CNBC, 17 Apr. 2026

Cain is stationed in a bare-bones dressing room far from Schon’s, with Pineda’s room placed strategically between them. —Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 31 Mar. 2026

Plural noun

While Augusta’s sponsor limitations already keep the TV production thin on ad breaks, CBS tends to go bare bones during the Sunday round. —Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 14 Apr. 2026

When boiled down to its bare bones, any interaction between two individuals is entirely about attempting to communicate something, whether that be an idea, an opinion, or an ideal time for dinner. —William Jones, USA Today, 30 Mar. 2026

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