bony

Bony is an English adjective derived from bone, used to describe a structure that is composed of osseous tissue or that resembles bone. The term is common in anatomy, medicine, and biology, where it often contrasts with cartilage or other non-bony tissues. The root refers to the mineralized tissue that forms the skeleton in vertebrates, and the suffix -y conveys the sense of “made of” or “resembling.”

In anatomy and zoology, something described as bony typically contains mineralized tissue. In the skeleton of most vertebrates, the level of ossification determines how “bony” a structure appears. The word appears in phrases such as bony skull, bony prominences, or bony changes observed in medical imaging.

In ichthyology, the term distinguishes a major lineage: bony fish (Osteichthyes) have ossified skeletons, jaws, and fins supported by bone, in contrast to cartilaginous fish (Chondrichthyes) whose skeletons are largely cartilage. This distinction is a standard part of vertebrate classification.

In medical contexts, “bony” describes outgrowths or hardening related to bone, such as bony spurs (osteophytes) or bony healing callus after fractures. The term may also describe tissue or regions that are unusually rigid or dense due to bone formation.

Bony also appears as a proper noun in some languages: it is used as a surname and, less commonly, as a place name. In such uses, it is unrelated to the descriptive sense but shares the same spelling.

See also: bone, osseous tissue, osteology, Osteichthyes.