cranial

adjective

cra·​ni·​al ˈkrā-nē-əl 

1

: of or relating to the skull or cranium

2

: cephalic

cranially

ˈkrā-nē-ə-lē 

adverb

Examples of cranial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Finn was pronounced dead at the scene, and Lynch was taken to a local hospital with facial fractures, a cranial leak and other injuries. — Katie Houlis, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026

Sisters Hiyab and Wuhbto are now recovering and undergoing rehabilitation and intensive care, more than six months after their cranial separation surgery in February, the hospital said. — Yi-Jin Yu, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026

Scrub technologists and circulating nurses prepare and manage instruments, maintain sterility, position the patient with millimeter precision for complex spine or cranial approaches, and anticipate needs before they are spoken. — Richard Menger Md Mpa, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026

Holistic treatments include full-body massages, myofascial release, reflexology, cranial sacral therapy, and Shiatsu. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 9 July 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing cranial

• cranial index
• cranial nerve
• ninth cranial nerve

Kids Definition

cranial

adjective

cra·​ni·​al ˈkrā-nē-əl 

: of, relating to, or directed toward the skull or cranium

Medical Definition

cranial

adjective

cra·​ni·​al ˈkrā-nē-əl 

1

: of or relating to the skull or cranium

2

: cephalic

the cranial end of the spinal column

cranially

-ə-lē 

adverb