cranial

adjective

cra·​ni·​al ˈkrā-nē-əl How to pronounce cranial (audio)
1
: of or relating to the skull or cranium
2
cranially adverb

Examples of cranial in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Those three men suffered massive leg and cranial traumas, Okanogan County Undersheriff David Yarnell told NBC News. Morgan Chesky, NBC news, 14 May 2025 Amber entombment preserved fine anatomical details — crucial for identifying convergent skull traits — yet also constrains phylogenetic resolution, since only cranial material is available. Scott Travers, Forbes.com, 29 Apr. 2025 And at a couple of nearby villages, cranial fragments were buried around huts. Daniel R. Depetris, Newsweek, 11 Jan. 2025 James explained that cranial attributes take a while to develop. D. T. Max, New Yorker, 7 Apr. 2025 See All Example Sentences for cranial

Word History

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cranial was in 1800

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Cite this Entry

“Cranial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cranial. Accessed 30 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

cranial

adjective
cra·​ni·​al ˈkrā-nē-əl How to pronounce cranial (audio)
: of, relating to, or directed toward the skull or cranium

Medical Definition

cranial

adjective
cra·​ni·​al ˈkrā-nē-əl How to pronounce cranial (audio)
1
: of or relating to the skull or cranium
2
: cephalic
the cranial end of the spinal column
cranially adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on cranial

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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