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
District officials, however, say the system faces a structural deficit driven by declining revenue, enrollment trends and the expiration of one-time pandemic-era funding.
—
Teresa Liu, Daily News, 10 Mar. 2026
The subsidies have helped offset some of the structural cost disadvantages that manufacturers face in India, including the lack of a China-like robust supply chain and logistics challenges.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
There’s also some confusion stemming from recent structural changes in Broward County government.
—Abbey Ajayi, Sun Sentinel, 10 Mar. 2026
Marilyn Miller Language Academy, the school that received the fifth straight F rating which triggered the state takeover in December, will undergo structural and personnel changes through an Accelerating Campus Excellence turnaround model supported by a state grant.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for structural
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Teresa Liu, Daily News, 10 Mar. 2026
The subsidies have helped offset some of the structural cost disadvantages that manufacturers face in India, including the lack of a China-like robust supply chain and logistics challenges.
—Bloomberg, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
There’s also some confusion stemming from recent structural changes in Broward County government.
—Abbey Ajayi, Sun Sentinel, 10 Mar. 2026
Marilyn Miller Language Academy, the school that received the fifth straight F rating which triggered the state takeover in December, will undergo structural and personnel changes through an Accelerating Campus Excellence turnaround model supported by a state grant.
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 10 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for structural
Cite this Entry
“Structural.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/structural. Accessed 14 Mar. 2026.
Copy CitationKids 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
adverb
-ē
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
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