cranial

adjective

cra·​ni·​al ˈkrā-nē-əl How to pronounce cranial (audio)
1
: of or relating to the skull or cranium
2
: cephalic
cranially
ˈkrā-nē-ə-lē How to pronounce cranial (audio)
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.
The company’s new surgical system for spine, cranial, and ear, nose, and throat procedures—Stealth Axis—is designed to help surgeons plan and execute personalized procedures based on a patient’s needs. — Dominque Mosbergen, Time, 15 Oct. 2026 Finn was pronounced dead at the scene, and Lynch was taken to a local hospital with facial fractures, a cranial leak and other injuries. — Katie Houlis, CBS News, 17 Sep. 2026 Sisters Hiyab and Wuhbto are now recovering and undergoing rehabilitation and intensive care, more than six months after their cranial separation surgery in February, the hospital said. — Yi-Jin Yu, ABC News, 16 Sep. 2026 Scrub technologists and circulating nurses prepare and manage instruments, maintain sterility, position the patient with millimeter precision for complex spine or cranial approaches, and anticipate needs before they are spoken. — Richard Menger Md Mpa, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026 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

Phrases Containing cranial

Browse Nearby Words

craniacromial
cranial
cranial bones
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cranial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cranial. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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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
-ə-lē How to pronounce cranial (audio)
adverb
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