Jump To:

• emery
  emery

  noun

  a granular mineral substance consisting typically of corundum mixed with magnetite or hematite, used powdered, crushed, or consolidated for grinding and polishing.
• Emery
  Emery

  noun

  a male or female given name.

emery

¹ American  

[em-uh-ree, em-ree] / ˈɛm ə ri, ˈɛm ri /

noun

1. a granular mineral substance consisting typically of corundum mixed with magnetite or hematite, used powdered, crushed, or consolidated for grinding and polishing.

---

Emery ² American  

[em-uh-ree, em-ree] / ˈɛm ə ri, ˈɛm ri /

noun

1. a male or female given name.

---

emery British  

/ ˈɛmərɪ /

noun

1. 1. a hard greyish-black mineral consisting of corundum with either magnetite or haematite: used as an abrasive and polishing agent, esp as a coating on paper, cloth, etc. Formula: Al 2 O 3

   2. ( as modifier )

      emery paper

---

Etymology

Origin of emery

1475–85; < Middle French emeri, Old French esmeril < Vulgar Latin *smēriculum, equivalent to Medieval Greek smêri (for Greek smýris rubbing powder; akin to smear ) + Latin -culum -cule ²

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

emery Emery

Should you want to polish metal, you’d do well to work with emery cloth.

From Seattle Times ● Aug. 28, 2023

Any imperfections, any divots or ridges, must be judiciously smoothed, and a climber’s equipment includes pumice stones, sandpaper and emery boards.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 4, 2021

Rule 3.01 says no player shall intentionally discolor or damage the ball by rubbing it with soil, rosin, paraffin, licorice, sand paper, emery paper or other foreign substance.

From Washington Times ● Mar. 5, 2020

The first emery deposits in America were discovered there.

From The New Yorker ● Sep. 17, 2018

Flossie clicked on the radio to soft dance music, then opened the glove compartment to find an emery board for filing down her nails.

From "The Milagro Beanfield War" by John Nichols

Watkins is the latest experienced player to leave Villa this summer and Emery urged supporters to back the club's strategy despite the loss of several key figures in their successful 2025-26 season.

From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026

The arrival of Jackson - who overtakes Manzambi to become Villa's record signing - from Chelsea gives Emery a specialist striker to work with.

From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026

Emery praised the England forward's behaviour during his Villa career and said he and the squad had accepted Watkins' apology for making himself unavailable against Brighton.

From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026

"We took decisions because it's good for the club," Emery said.

From BBC ● Aug. 28, 2026

I can fake being normal, as long as Emery doesn’t leave me alone.

From "Starfish" by Akemi Dawn Bowman