cranny

noun

cran·​ny ˈkra-nē 

plural crannies

1

: a small break or slit : crevice

2

: an obscure nook or corner

crannied

ˈkra-nēd 

adjective

Synonyms

• check
• chink
• cleft
• crack
• crevice
• fissure
• rift
• split

Examples of cranny in a Sentence

We saw strange, colorful creatures in the crannies of the reef while scuba diving.

We explored every cranny of the old castle.

Recent Examples on the Web

It can be used in wand mode or as a handheld vac with the option to attach the duster crevice tool for cleaning tight nooks and crannies. —Cierra Cowan, PC Magazine, 29 Apr. 2025

Engineers have figured out several methods over the years to scour out stubborn oil from nooks and crannies in the reservoir rock (think of a sponge but with much tighter pore spaces). —Christopher Helman, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025

Bone collector caterpillars grow up to be moths, like most caterpillars do, but these moths tend to lay their eggs in a spiderweb’s nooks and crannies. —Gayoung Lee, Scientific American, 24 Apr. 2025

Arroyo Hondo is a long creek with plenty of nooks and crannies for trout to hide in. —Lila Seidman, Los Angeles Times, 22 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English crany, from Middle French cren, cran notch

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing cranny

• every nook and cranny

Rhymes for cranny

• canny
• fanny
• grannie
• granny
• nannie
• nanny
• tympani
• uncanny

Kids Definition

cranny

noun

cran·​ny ˈkran-ē 

plural crannies

: a small break or slit (as in a cliff)