1
: ore
2
: an inorganic substance (as in the ash of calcined tissue)
3
obsolete
: mine
4
: something neither animal nor vegetable
5
a
: a solid homogeneous crystalline chemical element or compound that results from the inorganic processes of nature
broadly
: any of various naturally occurring homogeneous substances (such as stone, coal, salt, sulfur, sand, petroleum, water, or natural gas) obtained usually from the ground
b
: a synthetic substance having the chemical composition and crystalline form and properties of a naturally occurring mineral
6
Examples of mineral in a Sentence
Noun
an adequate supply of vitamins and minerals
Recent Examples on the Web
Megan Boettcher, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Apr. 2024
Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. acquired BNSF in 2010, two decades after the W.R. Grace & Co. vermiculite mine near Libby shut down and stopped shipping the contaminated mineral.
—Amy Beth Hanson, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2024
Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. acquired BNSF in 2010, two decades after the W.R. Grace & Co. vermiculite mine near Libby shut down and stopped shipping the contaminated mineral.
—Amy Beth Hanson and Matthew Brown, Quartz, 22 Apr. 2024
But China has spent decades cementing its status as a global leader in procuring minerals and developing critical technologies such as EV batteries while the U.S. has fallen behind.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2024
But, Margaret, the national resources, energy, critical minerals, that's an American strength.
—CBS News, 21 Apr. 2024
The supplements: magnesium and melatonin Melatonin, a hormone that helps to regulate your circadian rhythms, and magnesium, a mineral naturally found in lots of foods that can help promote relaxation, are both available as OTC supplements, and plenty of people swear by them to help with sleep.
—Ali Finney, SELF, 19 Apr. 2024
Nearly a dozen vitamins and minerals are known to play a role in the immune system.
—Sarah Anzlovar, Ms, Verywell Health, 19 Apr. 2024
Thousands of hectares of its rainforests have been cleared to produce palm oil or dig for minerals.
—Sui-Lee Wee Ulet Ifansasti, New York Times, 17 Apr. 2024
Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Fortune, 8 Apr. 2024
Would the battle for the mineral rights of the fictional Pandora resonate with audiences?
—EW.com, 4 Apr. 2024
Not only is the lightweight skin tint packed with mineral SPF and potent skincare ingredients, but it’s clinically proven to improve dryness, blemishes, redness, and wrinkles over time.
—Averi Baudler, Peoplemag, 5 Mar. 2024
This beautiful pair is made from mineral glass (which is reportedly 12 times more scratch-resistant than traditional lenses) and features color-enhancing tech that makes even the most mundane seem vibrant.
—Kristy Alpert, Travel + Leisure, 23 Feb. 2024
Biochar contains mineral ash, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and fixed carbon that can be used as a soil additive that increases water retention.
—Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 3 Jan. 2024
Don’t expect exotic fruit flavors here, beyond a lovely hint of pear and apricot; the main impression is mineral — as if the wine were bearing a message from the Earth itself.
—Dave McIntyre, Washington Post, 18 Jan. 2024
Circular economy interventions like increasing metal recovery and reusing mineral and non-mineral waste may also support emission reductions across the mining value chains.
—Carla Delgado, Popular Science, 28 June 2023
The moody aroma is reminiscent of cliffside vegetation, transporting the wearer to the stormy seashore through mineral top notes and metallic base accords.
—India Espy-Jones, Essence, 2 Jan. 2024
Noun
This prevents minerals found in tap water from ever entering the espresso machine and reduces scale build-up.
—Megan Boettcher, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 Apr. 2024
Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway Inc. acquired BNSF in 2010, two decades after the W.R. Grace & Co. vermiculite mine near Libby shut down and stopped shipping the contaminated mineral.
—Amy Beth Hanson, Fortune, 23 Apr. 2024
Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc. acquired BNSF in 2010, two decades after the W.R. Grace & Co. vermiculite mine near Libby shut down and stopped shipping the contaminated mineral.
—Amy Beth Hanson and Matthew Brown, Quartz, 22 Apr. 2024
But China has spent decades cementing its status as a global leader in procuring minerals and developing critical technologies such as EV batteries while the U.S. has fallen behind.
—Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 22 Apr. 2024
But, Margaret, the national resources, energy, critical minerals, that's an American strength.
—CBS News, 21 Apr. 2024
The supplements: magnesium and melatonin Melatonin, a hormone that helps to regulate your circadian rhythms, and magnesium, a mineral naturally found in lots of foods that can help promote relaxation, are both available as OTC supplements, and plenty of people swear by them to help with sleep.
—Ali Finney, SELF, 19 Apr. 2024
Nearly a dozen vitamins and minerals are known to play a role in the immune system.
—Sarah Anzlovar, Ms, Verywell Health, 19 Apr. 2024
Thousands of hectares of its rainforests have been cleared to produce palm oil or dig for minerals.
—Sui-Lee Wee Ulet Ifansasti, New York Times, 17 Apr. 2024
Adjective
There’s also our planet, which bears the brunt of mineral extraction and pollution.
—Cosmas Luckyson Zavazava, Fortune, 8 Apr. 2024
Would the battle for the mineral rights of the fictional Pandora resonate with audiences?
—EW.com, 4 Apr. 2024
Not only is the lightweight skin tint packed with mineral SPF and potent skincare ingredients, but it’s clinically proven to improve dryness, blemishes, redness, and wrinkles over time.
—Averi Baudler, Peoplemag, 5 Mar. 2024
This beautiful pair is made from mineral glass (which is reportedly 12 times more scratch-resistant than traditional lenses) and features color-enhancing tech that makes even the most mundane seem vibrant.
—Kristy Alpert, Travel + Leisure, 23 Feb. 2024
Biochar contains mineral ash, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium and fixed carbon that can be used as a soil additive that increases water retention.
—Ashley Miznazi, Miami Herald, 3 Jan. 2024
Don’t expect exotic fruit flavors here, beyond a lovely hint of pear and apricot; the main impression is mineral — as if the wine were bearing a message from the Earth itself.
—Dave McIntyre, Washington Post, 18 Jan. 2024
Circular economy interventions like increasing metal recovery and reusing mineral and non-mineral waste may also support emission reductions across the mining value chains.
—Carla Delgado, Popular Science, 28 June 2023
The moody aroma is reminiscent of cliffside vegetation, transporting the wearer to the stormy seashore through mineral top notes and metallic base accords.
—India Espy-Jones, Essence, 2 Jan. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mineral.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near mineral
Cite this Entry
“Mineral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mineral. Accessed 2 May. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
mineral
1 of 2 noun
min·er·al
ˈmin-(ə-)rəl 
1
: a solid chemical element or compound (as diamond or quartz) that occurs naturally in the form of crystals and results from inorganic processes
2
: a naturally occurring substance (as ore, petroleum, or water) obtained usually from the ground
mineral
2 of 2 adjective1
: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a mineral : inorganic
2
: containing mineral salts or gases
mineral water
Medical Definition
mineral
1 of 2 noun
min·er·al
ˈmin(-ə)-rəl
: a solid homogeneous crystalline chemical element or compound that results from the inorganic processes of nature
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