structural

structural — adjective

1. describes how the different components within a system, organization, or process

1.adjectiveB2
Definition

describes how the different components within a system, organization, or process are arranged and influence each other — for example, problems that are built into a company's management model rather than caused by individual workers.

Example

Karim argued that the company's problems were structural and not the fault of individual employees.

structural + problems: describing systemic, not personal, issues

The government announced a structural reform of the healthcare system to reduce waiting times.

structural reform: large-scale change to how a system is organized

Common collocations
  • structural reform
  • structural change
  • structural problem
  • structural weakness
  • structural cause
  • structural inequality
  • structural adjustment
  • structural unemployment
Synonyms
  • systemic

    broader scope — affects the entire system; 'structural' often implies arrangement of parts, while 'systemic' implies something that pervades the whole system

  • organizational

    less formal; limited to companies and institutions; 'structural' can also apply to abstract systems like language or economics

  • fundamental

    focuses on importance rather than arrangement; a fundamental change may not involve restructuring, but a structural one always does

Antonyms
  • superficial

    structural issues go deep into how something is arranged; superficial issues only affect the surface

  • temporary

    structural change is meant to be lasting; temporary fixes do not alter the underlying arrangement

Grammar Patterns

structural + noun

Usage Note

Almost always used before a noun (attributive position). For example, you can say 'a structural problem' but not 'the problem is structural' in informal speech (though it does occur in formal writing as a predicate adjective).

Common Mistakes

The company has structural problems because some workers are lazy.
The company has structural problems because its decision-making process is too slow.
'structural' describes system-level issues, not individual behaviour.

2. concerning the load-bearing framework or physical fabric of a building, bridge,

2.adjectiveB2
Definition

concerning the load-bearing framework or physical fabric of a building, bridge, or similar object — for example, walls, beams, foundations, and the materials that keep a structure standing.

Example

The earthquake caused serious structural damage to the old church near the market square.

structural damage: physical harm to a building's framework

Jenna's uncle is a structural engineer who checks the safety of tunnels and bridges.

structural engineer: specialist in building frameworks

Common collocations
  • structural damage
  • structural engineer
  • structural integrity
  • structural beam
  • structural repair
  • structural defect
  • structural failure
  • structural steel
Synonyms
  • constructional

    rare; 'structural' is the standard term in building contexts

  • load-bearing

    more specific — refers only to parts that support weight, while 'structural' covers the entire framework

  • architectural

    broader — includes design and aesthetics; 'structural' focuses on the engineering framework

Antonyms
  • cosmetic

    cosmetic repairs affect appearance only; structural repairs affect the framework

  • non-structural

    direct negative — walls that do not carry weight are non-structural

Grammar Patterns

structural + noun

Usage Note

Commonly used with nouns that refer to physical parts of a building: beam, wall, foundation, frame, integrity. Distinguish from sense 1: this sense always involves physical construction; sense 1 involves abstract arrangements.

Common Mistakes

The team made a structural change to the project schedule.' (here meaning sense 1).
The team found structural cracks in the building's foundation.
the second sense requires something physical like a building or bridge.

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

Structural, systemic, and fundamental all describe deep-seated issues, but they differ in focus. Structural emphasizes the arrangement of parts within a system: a structural problem means the system's design itself creates the issue. Systemic goes a step further — it means the problem pervades the entire system, so every part is affected. Fundamental points to importance or essence: a fundamental issue is one that matters most, whether or not it involves arrangement. For example, 'a structural flaw in the voting process' means the steps are poorly ordered; 'systemic corruption' means corruption exists throughout the institution; 'a fundamental disagreement' means the parties differ on a core belief. In business writing, 'structural reform' targets the way the organization is set up, while 'fundamental change' could refer to culture, strategy, or values.

structural ↗systemicfundamental ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • at a structural level

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

Structural comes from the Latin word structura, meaning 'a fitting together, building, or arrangement.' Structura itself comes from the verb struere, 'to build or pile up.' The word entered English in the early 1800s as an adjective formed from structure (first recorded in the 1400s, borrowed from French). By the mid-1800s it was used both for physical buildings and for abstract systems like grammar or society.