structural

adjective

struc·​tur·​al ˈstrək-chə-rəl 

ˈstrək-shrəl

1

: of or relating to the physical makeup of a plant or animal body

structural defects of the heart

2

a

: of, relating to, or affecting structure

structural stability

b

: used in building structures

structural clay

c

: involved in or caused by structure especially of the economy

structural unemployment

3

: of, relating to, or resulting from the effects of folding or faulting of the earth's crust : tectonic

4

: concerned with or relating to structure rather than history or comparison

structural linguistics

structurally adverb

Examples of structural in a Sentence

The house suffered no structural damage.

Recent Examples on the Web

Other projects collapsed entirely after structural problems, financial instability, or poor planning surfaced only after taxpayer money had already been spent. —Michele Steeb, Oc Register, 10 June 2026

The longer-term structural argument is about where the innovation economy now lives. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 10 June 2026

The economy had been on a structural turnaround since late 2024, notching up six straight quarterly expansions, and signalling its most stable period of growth in a decade thanks to easing electricity supply and gradual stabilization of public finances. —Tiisetso Motsoeneng, semafor.com, 10 June 2026

The initial system, named Eos, serves as a large-scale prototype designed to achieve steady-state fusion and test structural integrity under real operational loads. —Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 10 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1801, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Phrases Containing structural

• structural formula
• structural gene
• structural isomer
• structural racism
• structural steel

Rhymes for structural

• infrastructural
• microstructural
• ultrastructural
• nonstructural

Kids Definition

structural

adjective

struc·​tur·​al ˈstrək-chə-rəl 

ˈstrək-shrəl

1

: of, relating to, or affecting structure

structural weaknesses

2

: used or formed for use in construction

structural steel

structurally

-ē

adverb

Medical Definition

structural

adjective

struc·​tur·​al ˈstrək-chə-rəl, ˈstrək-shrəl 

1

: of or relating to the physical makeup of a plant or animal body

structural defects of the heart

compare functional sense 1a

2

: of, relating to, or affecting structure

structural stability

structurally

-ē 

adverb