frontal

1 of 2

noun

fron·​tal ˈfrən-tᵊl How to pronounce frontal (audio)
1
[Middle English frontel, from Medieval Latin frontellum, diminutive of Latin front-, frons] : a cloth hanging over the front of an altar
2

frontal

2 of 2

adjective

1
: of, relating to, or adjacent to the forehead or the frontal bone
2
a
: of, relating to, or situated at the front
b
: directed against the front or at the main point or issue : direct
frontal assault
3
: parallel to the main axis of the body and at right angles to the sagittal plane
4
: of or relating to a meteorological front
frontally adverb

Examples of frontal in a Sentence

Adjective most cars have the engine in the frontal part
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Higher levels of stress are found in the hypothalamus; lower stress are found in the dorsal lateral frontal cortex. Fox News, 29 May 2020 At the same time, the brain dampens the ability of our mid- and frontal cortex to use logic, criticize or think clearly. Sandee Lamotte, CNN, 14 Feb. 2020 The workout takes your body through all planes of motion: sagittal (forward/backward), frontal (side to side) and transverse (rotating), as well as fundamental movements like squat, hinge, push and pull. Dana Santas, CNN, 24 Apr. 2020 From here, pending approval by Union Pacific, the bridge will cross over the river and the final 1,800-foot leg completed to provide a full frontal of Mossbrae Falls. Tom Stienstra, SFChronicle.com, 15 Mar. 2020 Following the frontal passage early Thursday, high pressure will build in from the Tennessee Valley with clearing skies and much lower humidity. courant.com, 28 Aug. 2019 The good news is that this frontal system is moving into the Plains today and will bring some showers to the area which should help ease the fire conditions in the region. Daniel Manzo, ABC News, 8 Mar. 2020 Before Euphoria premiered, the world knew one thing about the brand new HBO show: there is a locker room scene with about 30 full-frontal penises flopping about. Ariana Romero, refinery29.com, 24 June 2019 Since the frontal cortex of an adolescent brain is still developing, teenagers aren’t fully able to reason or control impulses. Joelle Renstrom, The Conversation, 22 Jan. 2020
Adjective
Frontotemporal dementia, or FTD, refers to a group of diseases that primarily affect the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain, the Mayo Clinic said. Minyvonne Burke, NBC News, 22 Feb. 2024 Future for Female Crash Test Dummies The male dummy currently used in the driver’s seat in frontal crash tests for the five-star review was based on the average man in the 1970s at 5 foot 9 and 171 pounds. Kim Elsesser, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024 Are the Ravens, with so many of their most important defenders playing through injuries, primed to stand up to such a frontal assault? Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun, 11 Jan. 2024 The frontal cortex is one of the regions that expanded the most during human evolution. Diana Gitig, Ars Technica, 19 Dec. 2023 Willis was also was also diagnosed with frontotemporal dementia, a group of brain disorders that affect the brain's frontal and temporal lobes, which are associated with personality, behavior and language, Mayo Clinic explains. Caitlin O'Kane, CBS News, 4 Mar. 2024 Aphasia affects a person's ability to speak and understand speech, while frontotemporal dementia, or FTD, leads to a loss of function in the frontal and temporal lobes. Jonathan Franklin, NPR, 1 Mar. 2024 Frontotemporal dementia, or FTD, represents a group of brain disorders caused by the degeneration of the frontal and/or temporal lobes of the brain, the AFTD says. Chad Murphy, The Enquirer, 26 Feb. 2024 How Common Is Frontotemporal Dementia? FTD—sometimes called frontotemporal disorders—is a group of disorders that gradually damage the brain’s frontal and temporal lobes, which are responsible for thinking and behavior. Julia Landwehr, Health, 26 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'frontal.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

New Latin frontalis, from Latin front-, frons

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of frontal was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near frontal

Cite this Entry

“Frontal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frontal. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

frontal

adjective
front·​al
ˈfrənt-ᵊl
1
: of, relating to, or next to the forehead
2
: of, relating to, or directed at the front
a frontal attack
frontally
-ᵊl-ē
adverb

Medical Definition

frontal

adjective
fron·​tal ˈfrənt-ᵊl How to pronounce frontal (audio)
1
: of, relating to, or adjacent to the forehead or the frontal bone
2
: of, relating to, or situated at the front or anteriorly
3
: parallel to the main axis of the body and at right angles to the sagittal plane
a frontal plane
frontally adverb

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