skull and crossbones

noun

plural skulls and crossbones
: a representation of a human skull over crossbones usually used as a warning of danger to life

Examples of skull and crossbones in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Designed by David August, the suit is all-black velvet with an interior lining printed with skulls and crossbones. Hannah Chubb, Peoplemag, 12 Jan. 2024 The club was renamed Real Bedford F.C., with the crest changed to a skull and crossbones and the nickname to the Pirates. Joel Khalili, WIRED, 25 Aug. 2023 Silver and black, the body pattern resembles a pirate’s skull and crossbones. Rita Perwich, San Diego Union-Tribune, 1 July 2023 In April, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry posted a photograph on its Twitter account of a soldier wearing a patch featuring a skull and crossbones known as the Totenkopf, or Death’s Head. Thomas Gibbons-Neff, New York Times, 5 June 2023 The Colony High School’s football team awards helmet stickers for each phase of the game: a skull and crossbones for defensive plays, gold stars for offense and cougar paws for special teams. oregonlive, 26 Jan. 2023 The launch sparked outrage as the company promoted the J.V. death machine with cartoon skulls and crossbones stylized as boys and girls. Prem Thakker, The New Republic, 17 Jan. 2023 Symbols of skulls and crossbones appeared on some, but not all, of these bottles; warning labels didn’t become consistent until the 1960s. Emilie Le Beau Lucchesi, Discover Magazine, 1 Sep. 2022 With a pirate Band-Aid decorated with skulls and crossbones left over from a layer of children—hers? Margaret Atwood, The New Yorker, 19 Apr. 2021

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

Word History

First Known Use

1826, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of skull and crossbones was in 1826

Dictionary Entries Near skull and crossbones

Cite this Entry

“Skull and crossbones.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/skull%20and%20crossbones. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

skull and crossbones

noun
skull and cross·​bones -ˈkrȯs-ˌbōnz How to pronounce skull and crossbones (audio)
plural skulls and crossbones
: a representation of a human skull over crossbones used as a warning of danger to life
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!