jadeite

American  

[jey-dahyt] / ˈdʒeɪ daɪt /

noun

1. a mineral, essentially sodium aluminum silicate, NaAlSi 2 O 6 , usually fibrous, occurring in compact masses, whitish to dark green: a form of jade.

---

jadeite British  

/ ˈdʒeɪdaɪt /

noun

1. a usually green or white mineral of the clinopyroxene group, found in igneous and metamorphic rocks. It is used as a gemstone (jade). Composition: sodium aluminium silicate. Formula: NaAlSi 2 O 6 . Crystal structure: monoclinic

---

jadeite Scientific  

/ jād′īt′ /

1. A rare, usually green mineral of the pyroxene group. Jadeite can also occur in white, auburn, buff, or violet varieties. The most highly valued form of jade consists of jadeite. Chemical formula: NaAlSi ₂ O ₆ .

---

Etymology

Origin of jadeite

First recorded in 1860–65; jade ¹ + -ite ¹

Compare meaning

How does jadeite compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• jadeite vs. nephrite

Example Sentences

They’d load up on squirming live shrimp, jadeite bundles of water spinach and fat, oblong lotus roots.

From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 7, 2023

Other sculptures involve playful manipulation of existing objects, like the melting cake plates held aloft by the bent fingers of jadeite ring holders in “Hands and Handkerchief.”

From New York Times • Oct. 21, 2022

Last month, during a series of sales in Hong Kong, Sotheby’s said participation from mainland Chinese bidders fell 14% compared with the year before, hurting its sales of jadeite and traditional Chinese paintings.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 6, 2018

“I’m obsessed with jadeite everything. I have a pitcher with juice glasses. I would love to add these gorgeous mixing bowls to my collection.”

From Slate • Dec. 6, 2017

At Solutre have been found belemnites, ammonites, and Miocene shells, which were certainly never native to that district, with pieces of rock-crystal from the Alps, and beads made of a jadeite of unknown origin.

From Manners and Monuments of Prehistoric Peoples by D'Anvers, N.