What does "frontal" mean?
Ellipsis of frontal bone.
Frontal
/ˈfɹʌn.təl/ adj, noun
adj, noun ·Moderate ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Ellipsis of frontal bone.
- Grammar: frontal is listed as adj, noun.
- Nearest alternatives: ahead, altar, altar carpet, altar desk.
- Useful contrasts: askant, back-related, occipital.
- Usage evidence: Children below the age of 8 have an underdeveloped frontal lobe that might cause them to be unable to separate reality from fantasy. Some of them might believe that there are monsters in their closet or under the bed, for example. They are also sometimes unable to distinguish dreams from reality.
How to use "frontal"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "frontal" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "frontal" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "frontal" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "frontal" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "frontal" is acting as adj, noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "ahead" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "frontal", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Ellipsis of frontal bone. abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis
- 2 A decorative drapery covering the front of an altar.
"Even the mantelpiece is adorned with a totally unfunctional tasselled valance rather like an altar frontal."
- 3 the face or front of a building wordnet
- 4 The façade of a building.
- 5 a drapery that covers the front of an altar wordnet
Show 1 more definition
- 6 an adornment worn on the forehead wordnet
Adjective
- 1 Of, relating to, directed toward, or situated at the front. not-comparable
- 2 Of, relating to, directed toward, or situated at the front.; Directed against the front or at the main point or issue. not-comparable
"a frontal attack"
- 3 Of or relating to the forehead or frontal bone. not-comparable
- 4 Parallel to the main axis of the body and at right angles to the sagittal plane. not-comparable
- 5 Any of the scales of a reptile that lie in the general region of the forehead, more specifically between the eyes and to the anterior of this area. not-comparable
Show 1 more definition
- 6 Of or relating to a weather front. not-comparable
Adjective
- 1 belonging to the front part wordnet
- 2 of or adjacent to the forehead or frontal bone wordnet
- 3 meeting front to front wordnet
- 4 of or relating to the front of an advancing mass of air wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsAntonyms
Example
"Children below the age of 8 have an underdeveloped frontal lobe that might cause them to be unable to separate reality from fantasy. Some of them might believe that there are monsters in their closet or under the bed, for example. They are also sometimes unable to distinguish dreams from reality."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "frontal"?
Common synonyms include: ahead, altar, altar carpet, altar desk, altar facing, altar of prothesis.
How do you use "frontal" in a sentence?
Children below the age of 8 have an underdeveloped frontal lobe that might cause them to be unable to separate reality from fantasy. Some of them might believe that there are monsters in their closet or under the bed, for example. They are also sometimes unable to distinguish dreams from reality.
How do you pronounce "frontal"?
Pronounced /ˈfɹʌn.təl/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
Borrowed from New Latin frontālis, from frons (“the forehead, brow, front”) + -ālis (“-al”, adjectival suffix), equivalent to front + -al; cognate of French frontal. Doublet of frontalis.
Etymology 2
From Middle English frountel, from Old French frontel, from Latin frontāle (“a frontlet, metal band for the forehead”).