# cranium

/ˈkɹeɪˌniəm/ (US) · /kɹˈæniəm/ (UK) · CEFR C1 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cranium
Updated: 2026-10-16

## Definition

the hard bone case around your brain that protects it. People often just say skull in everyday talk.

For teachers: the bony structure enclosing the brain, forming the upper part of the skull without the lower jaw. Often distinguished from the bones of the face in anatomical description.

## Examples

- The doctor checks the cranium for any sign of injury.
- After the fall, the X-ray showed a small crack in the boy's cranium but no brain damage.
- The anthropologist measured the fossil cranium carefully to estimate brain size and compare it with later human ancestors.

## Synonyms

skull

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.