plural structures
1
a
: the way that something is built, arranged, or organized
They studied the compound's molecular structure.
The film had a simple narrative structure.
the structure of a plant
b
: the way that a group of people are organized
a solid family structure
the social structure of a college campus
changes to the company's power structure
2
: something (such as a house, tower, bridge, etc.) that is built by putting parts together and that usually stands on its own
a brick/steel structure
The structure was damaged by fire.
a 12-story structure
3
: the quality of something that is carefully planned, organized, and controlled
The novel lacks structure.
Children need a lot of structure in their lives.
structures; structured; structuring
: to arrange or organize (something) in a particular way
She structured the essay chronologically.
The story is structured [=built] around several main themes.
Cite this Entry
“Structure.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/structure. Accessed 13 Jul. 2026.
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