bony
Describes someone or a part of the body that is very thin, allowing the underlying bone structure to be seen or felt. It also refers to anything made of or resembling bone, particularly in biological or anatomical contexts.
Examples
3 of 5The stray dog was so bony that you could count every one of its ribs.
The stray dog was extremely thin and its bones were visible.
The surgeon noted a bony growth on the patient's orbital floor during the examination.
The doctor observed an unusual hard mass of bone in the patient's eye socket area.
Watch out for his bony elbows when you're playing basketball!
Be careful because his elbows are very sharp and hard.
Word Family
Memory Tip
Think of a 'Pony' that is so hungry you can see its 'Bones'—that pony is 'Bony'.
Quick Quiz
After weeks of illness, the patient's face looked ____ and pale.
Correct!
The correct answer is: bony
Examples
The stray dog was so bony that you could count every one of its ribs.
everydayThe stray dog was extremely thin and its bones were visible.
The surgeon noted a bony growth on the patient's orbital floor during the examination.
formalThe doctor observed an unusual hard mass of bone in the patient's eye socket area.
Watch out for his bony elbows when you're playing basketball!
informalBe careful because his elbows are very sharp and hard.
The evolution of bony fish represents a significant divergence from cartilaginous ancestors.
academicThe development of fish with bone-based skeletons is a major evolutionary shift from those with cartilage.
The consultant described the company's stripped-back infrastructure as a bony framework ready for new investment.
businessThe consultant said the company had a minimal, lean structure that was ready for growth.
Word Family
Common Collocations
Common Phrases
skin and bony
extremely thin (often used as 'skin and bone')
bony fish
a class of fish that have skeletons primarily composed of bone tissue
bony frame
a person's physical skeletal build
Often Confused With
Bonny is a Scottish/Northern English term meaning attractive or healthy-looking, whereas bony means thin and skeletal.
Boney is simply a less common spelling variant of bony; both are technically correct but 'bony' is preferred in modern English.
Usage Notes
When used to describe people, 'bony' is often slightly negative or clinical, suggesting a person is unhealthily thin. In biology, it is a neutral, descriptive term for species or structures containing bone.
Common Mistakes
Learners often forget to drop the 'e' from 'bone' when adding the '-y' suffix. They might also confuse the adjective with the noun 'bone' when describing physical traits.
Memory Tip
Think of a 'Pony' that is so hungry you can see its 'Bones'—that pony is 'Bony'.
Word Origin
Derived from the Old English 'bāniġ', which comes from 'bān' (bone).
Grammar Patterns
Quick Quiz
After weeks of illness, the patient's face looked ____ and pale.
Correct!
The correct answer is: bony
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