exoskeleton

American  

[ek-soh-skel-i-tn] / ˌɛk soʊˈskɛl ɪ tn /

noun

Zoology.

1. an external covering or integument, especially when hard, as the shells of crustaceans (endoskeleton ).

---

exoskeleton British  

/ ˌɛksəʊˈskɛlɪtən /

noun

1. the protective or supporting structure covering the outside of the body of many animals, such as the thick cuticle of arthropods Compare endoskeleton

---

exoskeleton Scientific  

/ ĕk′sō-skĕl′ĭ-tn /

1. A hard, protective outer body covering of an animal, such as an insect, crustacean, or mollusk. The exoskeletons of insects and crustaceans are largely made of chitin.

2. Compare endoskeleton

---

Other Word Forms

• exoskeletal adjective

Etymology

Origin of exoskeleton

First recorded in 1840–50; exo- + skeleton

Compare meaning

How does exoskeleton compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• endoskeleton vs. exoskeleton

Example Sentences

“A legged battlefield robot or an exoskeleton suit relies on the same core technologies as a commercial humanoid, ruggedized for combat.”

From MarketWatch • Jan. 14, 2026

When these machines become more common on the streets, "social anxiety, or the embarrassment associated with wearing an exoskeleton" will fade, said Knisely.

From Barron's • Jan. 8, 2026

While its towering and sleek exoskeleton frame and otherworldly facial features — this one has human-like silver teeth, dripping in goo — remain a formidable sight, its invisible terror is what often brings the horror.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 12, 2025

This wasn’t quite the little white empire-line muslin dress familiar from Jane Austen costume dramas, but it was heading that way from the exoskeleton corsetry of the ancien régime.

From Slate • Jul. 21, 2025

The outside of the suit was covered with an elaborate exoskeleton, a network of artificial tendons and joints that could both sense and inhibit my movements.

From "Ready Player One: A Novel" by Ernest Cline