pyrite

American  

[pahy-rahyt] / ˈpaɪ raɪt /

noun

1. a very common brass-yellow mineral, iron disulfide, FeS 2 , with a metallic luster, burned to sulfur dioxide in the manufacture of sulfuric acid: chemically similar to marcasite, but crystallizing in the isometric system.

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pyrite British  

/ paɪˈrɪtɪk, ˈpaɪraɪt /

noun

1. Nontechnical name: fool's gold.  Also called: iron pyrites.   pyrites.  a yellow mineral, found in igneous and metamorphic rocks and in veins. It is a source of sulphur and is used in the manufacture of sulphuric acid. Composition: iron sulphide. Formula: FeS 2 . Crystal structure: cubic

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pyrite Scientific  

/ pī′rīt′ /

1. A silver to yellow, metallic, cubic mineral. Pyrite often crystallizes in cubes or octahedrons but also occurs as shapeless masses of grains. It occurs in most types of rocks, and is used as a source of iron and in making sulfur dioxide. It is a polymorph of marcasite. Because of its shiny look and often yellow color, it is sometimes mistaken for gold and for this reason is also called fool's gold. Chemical formula: FeS ₂ .

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Other Word Forms

• pyritic
  adjective
• pyritical
  adjective
• pyritous
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of pyrite

1560–70; < Latin pyrītēs < Greek pyrī́tēs, noun use of adj.: of fire, so called because it produces sparks when struck. See pyr-, -ite ¹

Compare meaning

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

• chalcopyrite vs. pyrite

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

pyrite

Operating like a cigarette lighter, this system produced an ignition spark by bringing a piece of pyrite into contact with a revolving, spring-powered wheel.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 19, 2026

Some fossil samples contained pyrite, a mineral made of iron and sulfur.

From Science Daily ● May 12, 2026

Perhaps everything Lisa Vanderpump touches does turn to gold — or, at least, shiny, fake pyrite.

From Salon ● Apr. 24, 2025

Shiny iron sulfide, familiar to many Coloradans as fool's gold, or pyrite, is the most common of these sulfide minerals, but copper, zinc and other metal sulfides are also common.

From Science Daily ● Apr. 23, 2024

Using one of Kaz’s lockpicks and copper pyrite Jesper had extracted from the roof, Wylan traced his best imitation of the Menagerie feather on Nina’s arm, following Inej’s description and making corrections as needed.

From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo