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

Fu Song’s background in user-experience design has shaped an approach that places real-life functionality and structural clarity at the heart of the design process. — Footwear News, 6 Oct. 2026

If the first two point to structural compression, the fix isn’t tighter bidding. — Gaetano Romeo, Forbes.com, 6 Oct. 2026

And the only way to actually deter streaming fraud wasn’t individual prison sentences, but structural reforms to the music streaming ecosystem. — Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 6 Oct. 2026

But construction earlier this year found significant structural damage beneath the kitchen floors. — Anne Ewbank, Sacbee.com, 6 Oct. 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