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.
If much about the structure and terms of the deal remains sealed within the cranial vaults of the executives who’ve been piecing it together, the broader strokes are legible enough. Anthony Crupi, Sportico.com, 4 Aug. 2025 Whereas our average cranial capacity is about 1,350 cubic centimeters, a juluensis skull measures 1,700. Cody Cottier, Discover Magazine, 26 July 2025 Compared to the free air and 50/50 ratio, the progeny exposed to the 30/70 ratio showed a much larger reduction in cranial width and height. Charlotte Phillipp, People.com, 18 July 2025 Limited cranial shifts in city-dwelling rodents after a century of urbanization. Soo Kim, MSNBC Newsweek, 27 June 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cranial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cranial. Accessed 21 Aug. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!