any of a class of substances occurring in nature, usually comprising inorganic substances, as quartz or feldspar, of definite chemical composition and usually of definite crystal structure, but sometimes also including rocks formed by these substances as well as certain natural products of organic origin, as asphalt or coal.
a substance obtained by mining, as ore.
(loosely) any substance that is neither animal nor vegetable.
British. minerals, mineral water.
Nutrition. any of the inorganic elements, as calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, or sodium, that are essential to the functioning of the human body and are obtained from foods.
of the nature of a mineral; pertaining to a mineral or minerals.
containing or impregnated with a mineral or minerals.
neither animal nor vegetable; inorganic.
mineral matter.
mineralogical.
mineralogy.
any of a class of naturally occurring solid inorganic substances with a characteristic crystalline form and a homogeneous chemical composition
any inorganic matter
any substance obtained by mining, esp a metal ore
(often plural) short for mineral water
Usual US word: soda. a soft drink containing carbonated water and flavourings
A naturally occurring, solid, inorganic element or compound having a uniform composition and a regularly repeating internal structure. Minerals typically have a characteristic hardness and color, or range of colors, by which they can be recognized. Rocks are made up of minerals.
A natural substance of commercial value, such as iron ore, coal, or petroleum, that is obtained by mining, quarrying, or drilling.
Rocks are aggregates of minerals.
Most minerals are crystals, like salt and diamonds.
First recorded in 1375–1425; late Middle English, from Middle French, Old French mineral, from Medieval Latin minerāle (noun), minerālis (adjective), from miner(a) “mine, ore,” (from Vulgar Latin mināria (unrecorded); equivalent to mine 2 + -ary ) + -āle, -ālis -al 1
A mineral is a nonliving natural substance of a definite chemical composition. A mineral like manganese may help keep you healthy; a mineral like a diamond may help keep you sparkly. At one time mineral referred to valuable substances obtained in mines. Although that still can be the case, today the word has several senses (both noun and adjective) and may be found almost anywhere — in the ground, in the air, or on the periodic table. And if you remember mineral when you remember animal and vegetable, you’ve got a better chance of winning Twenty Questions.
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
All three moons appear to contain the same hydrated mineral, but researchers have not yet been able to determine exactly what it is.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 14, 2026
“Zambia’s election comes at a critical point as global powers compete for a foothold in Africa’s critical mineral supply chains,” Hoosen says in a note.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
His son Ivan said moving ahead with the mine honors agreements made by their forefathers who fought to secure mineral rights here.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026
Their vertebrae fused, while mineral deposits caused the tissue between the bones to become abnormally hard.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 6, 2026
There was no guessing what mineral wealth hid in the soil, untapped because the old ferns, flowers, bushes, and trees had tired themselves to death.
From "The Martian Chronicles" by Ray Bradbury
“And you know what an animal is — it’s not a vegetable or a mineral. It’s a body, and you know what I’m talking about.”
From New York Times ● Apr. 3, 2023
The U.S. is pouring billions into a push to end the country’s dependence on China for critical minerals.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
These clay minerals require liquid water to form.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 14, 2026
“When you’re trying to describe your company in a couple of words, there’s not much you can do in the rare-earth space other than using the name rare earth, critical minerals, critical metals,” said Sage.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
"A high fraction of compounds were the product of organic chemistry with minerals," said organic mass spectrometry specialist Phil Schmitt-Kopplin of Technical University Munich.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 8, 2026
Bacteria, fungi, and algae are the principal agents of decay, reducing plant and animal residues to their component minerals.
From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
