bony

/ˈboʊni/

/ˈbʌʊni/

Other forms: bonier; boniest

Someone who's bony is very thin. Your cat may have been plump when he was young, and become bony as he got older.

If you're so skinny that your bones are prominent, your friends might call you bony and encourage you to eat more. Another way to use the adjective bony is to mean "like bone" or "containing bone." Some animals have bony shells or protective plates — and you might not enjoy your fish dinner if it's way too bony. Bony shares a root with bone, the Old English ban, "bone or tusk."

Definitions of bony

1. adjective

   composed of or containing bone
   synonyms: osseous, osteal
2. adjective

   having bones especially many or prominent bones
   “a bony shad fillet”

   “her bony wrist”

   “bony fish”

   synonyms: boney

   bone

   consisting of or made up of bone

   boned

   having bones as specified

   bonelike

   resembling bone

   strong-boned

   having strong bones

   antonyms:

   boneless

   being without a bone or bones

   boned, deboned

   having had the bones removed
3. adjective

   very thin, especially from disease or hunger or cold
   “emaciated bony hands”

   synonyms: cadaverous, emaciated, gaunt, haggard, pinched, skeletal, wasted

   lean, thin

   lacking excess flesh