frontal

1 of 2

noun

fron·​tal ˈfrən-tᵊl 

1

[Middle English frontel, from Medieval Latin frontellum, diminutive of Latin front-, frons] : a cloth hanging over the front of an altar

2

: facade sense 1

frontal

2 of 2

adjective

1

: of, relating to, or adjacent to the forehead or the frontal bone

2

a

: of, relating to, or situated at the front

b

: directed against the front or at the main point or issue : direct

frontal assault

3

: parallel to the main axis of the body and at right angles to the sagittal plane

4

: of or relating to a meteorological front

frontally

ˈfrən-tᵊl-ē 

adverb

Synonyms

Adjective

• anterior
• fore
• forward
• front
• frontward
• frontwards

Examples of frontal in a Sentence

Adjective

most cars have the engine in the frontal part

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

There’s some nonsexual nudity, including brief full frontals, set in a virtual world. —Common Sense Media, Washington Post, 29 Mar. 2024

Higher levels of stress are found in the hypothalamus; lower stress are found in the dorsal lateral frontal cortex. —Fox News, 29 May 2020

Adjective

In a few days, a non-tropical area of low pressure could form along a residual frontal boundary a few hundred miles off the southeastern U.S. coastline. —Alexis Simmerman, Austin American-Statesman, 11 Sep. 2024

That may be followed by more widespread storms Thursday, which is Halloween, and into Friday morning as the frontal boundary stirs up the atmosphere over Houston. —Jay R. Jordan, Axios, 28 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

New Latin frontalis, from Latin front-, frons

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Adjective

1630, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing frontal

• frontal bone
• frontal lobe

Kids Definition

frontal

adjective

front·​al

ˈfrənt-ᵊl

1

: of, relating to, or next to the forehead

2

: of, relating to, or directed at the front

a frontal attack

frontally

-ᵊl-ē

adverb

Medical Definition

frontal

adjective

fron·​tal ˈfrənt-ᵊl 

1

: of, relating to, or adjacent to the forehead or the frontal bone

2

: of, relating to, or situated at the front or anteriorly

3

: parallel to the main axis of the body and at right angles to the sagittal plane

a frontal plane

frontally

-ᵊl-ē 

adverb