lodestone

American  

[lohd-stohn] / ˈloʊdˌstoʊn /

Or loadstone

noun

1. a variety of magnetite that possesses magnetic polarity and attracts iron.

2. a piece of this serving as a magnet.

3. something that attracts strongly.

---

lodestone British  

/ ˈləʊdˌstəʊn /

noun

1. 1. a rock that consists of pure or nearly pure magnetite and thus is naturally magnetic

   2. a piece of such rock, which can be used as a magnet and which was formerly used as a primitive compass

2. a person or thing regarded as a focus of attraction

---

lodestone Scientific  

/ lōd′stōn′ /

1. A piece of the mineral magnetite that acts like a magnet.

---

Etymology

Origin of lodestone

1505–15; lode (in obsolete sense “way, course”) + stone

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

lodestone

Not everyone will agree that establishing this new moral compact should be our party’s lodestone.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 20, 2025

Putting R-Star into practice as a lodestone for policy has never been easy.

From Reuters ● May 2, 2023

The lodestone attracted an Australian company backed by Chinese investors that had hoped to blast an open-pit mine — until it ran into Ms. Paviasen.

From New York Times ● Oct. 1, 2021

Lindor’s grand slam in the sixth inning served as the lodestone of the Indians’ 13-inning, roar-from-behind, 9-8 triumph.

From Washington Post ● Oct. 6, 2017

But for now, he was sending a message on the lodestone resonator, and his attention was fully occupied with the movement of the bow and his fingers.

From "The Amber Spyglass" by Philip Pullman