coal seam

noun

: a bed of coal usually thick enough to be profitably mined

Examples of coal seam in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The rest was onshore coalbed methane, or coal seam gas, and those resources aren’t in growth mode either. — Jordan Blum, Fortune, 10 Oct. 2026 The Sphagnum mosses that surround me arose some 14 million years ago, the descendants of mosses that evolved 400 million years ago, making their lineage older than the coal seams that runs through the deep mountains. — Literary Hub, 9 Sep. 2026 In recent decades, the biggest coal seams in Appalachia were mined out. — Howard Berkes, NPR, 5 Aug. 2026 The coal seam fire, located approximately one mile northwest of Meeker, has been managed over the years to address hot spots and concerns. — Christa Swanson, CBS News, 4 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for coal seam

Word History

First Known Use

1756, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of coal seam was in 1756

Rhymes for coal seam

See All Rhymes for coal seam

Browse Nearby Words

coal-scuttle bonnet
coal seam
coal tar
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Coal seam.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/coal%20seam. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on coal seam

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about coal seam

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of compunction

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All