What does structural mean?
Structural is an adjective meaning connected with the way something is organized, arranged, or built. It is especially common in engineering, where structural integrity refers to the strength and stability of a building or other construction. In social and political discussion, structural change means a change in the underlying organization of a system rather than a minor adjustment within it. In linguistics, structural approaches study language as a network of related parts and contrasts. The word often carries a serious, analytical tone and implies that the feature being discussed is basic to the organization of the subject. It can also be used more broadly to describe an approach that emphasizes systems, relationships, and underlying patterns. Because “structural” is closely related to “structure,” it is useful whenever the underlying framework or arrangement of a subject is more important than isolated details.
adjectiveRelating to the structure, organization, or arrangement of something. In linguistics, it describes an approach that analyzes language as a system of parts and relationships rather than primarily through its historical development.
- Relating to the structure, organization, or arrangement of something.
- Concerned with the framework or arrangement of a system, especially in linguistics or social theory.
- Relating to the construction or framework of buildings, machines, or other physical objects.
"The engineers identified a structural weakness in the bridge."
"The report identifies structural problems in the organization’s decision-making."
"Structural linguistics examines how sounds, words, and grammatical patterns relate to one another."
Structuralism made a famous claim in linguistics: language is best understood as a system of differences rather than as a collection of isolated words.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does structural come from?
The adjective developed from the Latin word structura, meaning “a building, arrangement, or construction,” through the related English vocabulary of structure and structuralism. Latin structura was formed from struere, “to build,” the same root found in English words such as construct, construction, and constructor. The adjective entered English in the early 19th century, initially in contexts concerned with construction and the organization of language.
Related word forms
How structural is actually used
The word is widely used in academic, technical, and professional contexts. In general usage, it often suggests something fundamental to the way a system is organized; in engineering, it specifically concerns the load-bearing framework of a physical structure.