mineral

1 of 2

noun

min·​er·​al ˈmi-nə-rəl How to pronounce mineral (audio)
ˈmin-
1
: ore
2
: something neither animal nor vegetable
3
: an inorganic substance
especially : one (such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, and zinc) that cannot be synthesized in the body and is essential in minute quantities to the function and structure of living organisms
4
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
5
obsolete : mine
6
minerals plural, British : mineral water

mineral

2 of 2

adjective

1
: of or relating to minerals
also : inorganic
2
: impregnated with mineral substances

Examples of mineral in a Sentence

Noun an adequate supply of vitamins and minerals
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.
Noun
In 2025 mCDR start-up Gigablue sold 200,000 future credits for a method intended to stimulate phytoplankton on mineral particles that later sink. — Alec Luhn, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026 Uzbekistan holds vast deposits of rare earths and critical minerals, while neighboring Kazakhstan is the world’s leading producer of uranium, accounting for 40% of supplies. — semafor.com, 19 Oct. 2026
Adjective
Some industry experts believe mineral resources in Greenland have only been lightly explored and up until now the cost of extraction has not made economic sense for private companies. — Duarte Dias, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026 Among the clues supporting an asteroid origin are mineral and chemical signatures identified in material collected from the region that researchers have argued are consistent with a stony or carbonaceous asteroid. — Micah Hanks, Space.com, 12 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for mineral

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English, from Medieval Latin minerale, from neuter of mineralis

Adjective

Middle English, from Medieval Latin mineralis, from minera mine, ore, from Old French minere, miniere, from mine

First Known Use

Noun

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of mineral was in the 15th century

Phrases Containing mineral

Browse Nearby Words

mineragraphy
mineral
mineral acid
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Mineral.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mineral. Accessed 22 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

mineral

1 of 2 noun
min·​er·​al ˈmin-(ə-)rəl How to pronounce mineral (audio)
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 adjective
1
: 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 How to pronounce mineral (audio)
: a solid homogeneous crystalline chemical element or compound that results from the inorganic processes of nature

mineral

2 of 2 adjective
1
: of or relating to minerals
also : inorganic
2
: impregnated with mineral substances

More from Merriam-Webster on mineral

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about mineral

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