exoskeleton
noun
exo·skel·e·ton
ˌek-sō-ˈske-lə-tən 
1
: an external supportive covering of an animal (such as an arthropod)
2
: bony or horny parts of a vertebrate produced from epidermal tissues
3
: an artificial external supporting structure
Examples of exoskeleton in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Designed by the late Pritzker Prize-winning architect Zaha Hadid, the 62-story tower looks more like a piece of contemporary sculpture than a residential high-rise, thanks to the dramatic concrete exoskeleton wrapping around its exterior.
—
Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 10 Feb. 2026
Knee-assist devices and exoskeletons often use simple bearings placed near the knee, which can create painful misalignment because a real knee hinges but also shifts, rolls, and slides.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 9 Feb. 2026
And fire ants use their waxy, water-repellent coating and textured exoskeletons to trap air; during floods, thousands cling together to make buoyant, living rafts that can survive 12 days and possibly longer.
—Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 3 Feb. 2026
The 25-year-old Bronco is in the middle of a metamorphosis, shedding an exoskeleton that isn’t his.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 16 Jan. 2026
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Abby Montanez, Robb Report, 10 Feb. 2026
Knee-assist devices and exoskeletons often use simple bearings placed near the knee, which can create painful misalignment because a real knee hinges but also shifts, rolls, and slides.
—Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 9 Feb. 2026
And fire ants use their waxy, water-repellent coating and textured exoskeletons to trap air; during floods, thousands cling together to make buoyant, living rafts that can survive 12 days and possibly longer.
—Deni Ellis Béchard, Scientific American, 3 Feb. 2026
The 25-year-old Bronco is in the middle of a metamorphosis, shedding an exoskeleton that isn’t his.
—Luca Evans, Denver Post, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for exoskeleton
Cite this Entry
“Exoskeleton.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/exoskeleton. Accessed 14 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
exoskeleton
noun
exo·skel·e·ton
ˌek-sō-ˈskel-ət-ᵊn
: a hard supporting or protective structure (as of an insect, spider, or crustacean) on the outside of the body
Medical Definition
exoskeleton
noun
exo·skel·e·ton
ˌek-sō-ˈskel-ət-ᵊn
1
: an external supportive covering of an animal (as the system of sclerites covering the body of an insect) compare endoskeleton
2
: bony or horny parts (as nails, hooves, or scales) of a vertebrate produced from epidermal tissues
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