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

One of the 6th-century burials had been placed in a log coffin, Birch said — and although most of the remains did not survive, a soil stain marked where it had been laid, along with a few cranial fragments. —Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 20 Feb. 2026

Based on the crest fossil’s inner vascular canals and exterior texture, the team theorizes that the cranial accessory was likely housed in keratin and brightly colored. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 19 Feb. 2026

Lynch was taken to a local hospital to be treated for facial fractures, a cranial leak and other injuries. —Katie Houlis, CBS News, 31 Jan. 2026

But the highlight was the cranial osteopathy session, carried out by the estate’s other co-founder, Elaine Williams. —Irenie Forshaw, TheWeek, 20 Jan. 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