nugget

noun

nug·​get ˈnə-gət How to pronounce nugget (audio)
Synonyms of nugget
1
: a solid lump
especially : a native lump of precious metal
2
: tidbit sense 2
nuggets of wisdom
3
: a small usually rounded piece of food
chicken nuggets

Synonyms of nugget

Relevance
See All Synonyms & Antonyms in Thesaurus

Examples of nugget in a Sentence

nuggets of beef in the chow mein a seemingly inconsequential nugget of information that proved to be the key to cracking the case
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.
And yet the nugget of knowledge from his vast experience of traversing 120 yards (110 metres) via two 60-yard lengths in a trench – dug 4ft deep and 3ft wide in a Welsh field – filled with murky, mucky river water is not a tip about technique. — Rob Tanner, New York Times, 3 Sep. 2026 McDonald's is also bringing back the McDonald’s mighty hot sauce with its spicy chicken nuggets. — Mike Snider, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026 McDonald’s debuted the spicy nuggets in 2020 and have brought them back a few times for limited-time stints. — Ella Gonzales, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 1 Sep. 2026 Along with a brief moment of tenderness Sara experiences with her class’s resident dork, this feminine camaraderie makes for a nugget of niceness in a sea of despair. — Beatrice Loayza, Variety, 30 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for nugget

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1851, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of nugget was in 1851

Browse Nearby Words

nuggar
nugget
nugget gold
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nugget.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nugget. Accessed 7 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

nugget

noun
nug·​get ˈnəg-ət How to pronounce nugget (audio)
: a solid lump especially of precious metal
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!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of gist

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Why do we use apostrophes to show possession?

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

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

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke

Ye Olde Nincompoop: Old-Fashioned Words for 'Stupid'

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Words of the Week - Sept. 4
See More

Popular

See More

A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

The Longest Long Words List

Stay Woke
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
anagrams on a chalk board
Word Builder Quiz Vol. 2 Pick the letter that when added to a word will ma...
See All