skeletal

adjective

skel·​e·​tal ˈske-lə-tᵊl 

: of, relating to, forming, attached to, or resembling a skeleton

skeletally

ˈske-lə-tᵊl-ē 

adverb

Synonyms of skeletal

• gaunt
• haggard

Examples of skeletal in a Sentence

The archaeologist found skeletal remains.

She was skeletal after her illness.

Recent Examples on the Web

In the linocut, Roque is seen to be wearing a scarf and looking almost skeletal. — Hikmat Mohammed, ARTnews.com, 14 Sep. 2026

Brumm and his team cite evidence gathered from the extremely rare skeletal remains of two early human foragers discovered on the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. — Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 10 Sep. 2026

The 4,000-year-old skeletal remains from the bio-archaeology lab? — Nabih Bulos, Los Angeles Times, 8 Sep. 2026

Morphew has pleaded not guilty and faces trial next summer in the death of Suzanne Morphew, who disappeared in 2020 and whose skeletal remains were found off a dirt road in southern Colorado in 2023. — ABC News, 8 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1854, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing skeletal

• skeletal muscle

Rhymes for skeletal

• cytoskeletal
• musculoskeletal

Kids Definition

skeletal

adjective

skel·​e·​tal ˈskel-ət-ᵊl 

: of, relating or attached to, forming, or resembling a skeleton

skeletal muscles

the skeletal system

Medical Definition

skeletal

adjective

skel·​e·​tal

ˈskel-ət-ᵊl, British sometimes ske-ˈlēt-ᵊl

: of, relating to, forming, attached to, or resembling a skeleton

skeletal structures

the skeletal system