bony

adjective

ˈbō-nē 

variants or less commonly boney

bonier; boniest

1

a

: consisting of bone

b

: resembling bone

2

a

: full of bones

a bony piece of fish

b

: having prominent bones

a rugged bony face

3

a

: skinny, scrawny

b

: barren, lean

Synonyms

• fatless
• lean
• lithe
• skinny
• slender
• slim
• spare
• svelte
• thin

Examples of bony in a Sentence

a bony piece of fish

that bony old horse may have been deliberately starved

Recent Examples on the Web

Differences in Adult Bones That being said, some adults are bonier than others. —Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 3 Nov. 2023

The climb glided easily across the scalp without tugging at our strands and didn't ever cause us any discomfort or pain (even on the bonier parts of the head). —Cai Cramer, Peoplemag, 1 May 2023

Then stand or sit while bending forward at the waist, pinching the soft part of the nose below the bony portion on both sides for 10 minutes. —Scott Lafee, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Jan. 2023

Riders follow the instructions of Redbeard (given via onboard audio), which include finding and counting gems along the shore, looking out for bony opponents in Skeleton Valley and participating in a seaworthy singalong near the finale. —Dewayne Bevil, Orlando Sentinel, 11 Jan. 2023

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing bony

• bony fish

Kids Definition

bony

adjective

ˈbō-nē 

bonier; boniest

1

: of or relating to bone

the bony structure of the body

2

: full of bones

3

: resembling bone especially in hardness

a bony substance

4

: having large or noticeable bones

a bony face

5

: skinny sense 2, scrawny

Medical Definition

bony

adjective

variants also boney

ˈbō-nē 

bonier; boniest

: consisting of or resembling bone

bony prominences of the skull