cranium

American  

[krey-nee-uhm] / ˈkreɪ ni əm /

noun

plural

craniums, crania

1. the skull of a vertebrate.

2. the part of the skull that encloses the brain.

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cranium British  

/ ˈkreɪnɪəm /

noun

1. the skull of a vertebrate

2. Nontechnical name: brainpan.  the part of the skull that encloses the brain

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cranium Scientific  

/ krā′nē-əm /

plural

craniums

1. The vertebrate skull, especially the part that encloses and protects the brain.

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cranium Cultural  

1. The part of the skull that encloses the brain.

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Etymology

Origin of cranium

First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English craneum, from Medieval Latin crānium, from Greek krāníon “skull”; akin to kerato-, cerebrum, cornu, horn

Explanation

Your cranium is your skull, the hard bone of your head that protects your brain from injury. Take care of your cranium; it's your built-in helmet! The skull is composed of two primary parts: the cranium, which houses the brain, and the mandible, or jawbone. While the cranium acts as a protective "braincase," it also provides the structural foundation for the facial skeleton. In some animals, the cranium is reinforced so that defensive features, such as horns or antlers, can be anchored directly to the bone. The word comes from the Greek kranion, "upper part of the head," from the root word kara, "head."

Example Sentences

"Using high-tech scanning, this time we were able to create comprehensive new digital images of the external and internal cranium, showcasing the complexity of the brain cavity of this fascinating lungfish," she says.

From Science Daily • Mar. 12, 2026

The university removed that cranium from the reburial so it can be assessed for return through NAGPRA.

From Seattle Times • Feb. 2, 2024

If the device works as expected, it will answer longstanding questions about the impacts of microgravity inside the cranium.

From New York Times • Nov. 12, 2023

These are stories I want to invest in, and it's irritating to have the alleged Garlin ickiness buzzing around my cranium like a gnat while I try to do that.

From Salon • Jun. 8, 2023

Once he got a fact, it stayed, but the hours it took to pass into his cranium were not to be believed.

From "The Princess Bride" by William Goldman