Synonyms

sedimentary rock

Cultural

Rock that has formed through the deposition and solidification of sediment, especially sediment transported by water (rivers, lakes, and oceans), ice (glaciers), and wind. Sedimentary rocks are often deposited in layers, and frequently contain fossils.

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Limestone and shale are common sedimentary rocks.

Example Sentences

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sedimentary rock

For centuries, Lake Maracaibo’s environs were known for natural seepage of oil rising to the surface from sedimentary rock, a phenomenon also seen in sites like Los Angeles’ La Brea Tar Pits.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 15, 2026

Shale is, after all, the most common sedimentary rock and found all over the world.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 10, 2026

Imprinted in sediments or sedimentary rock, they record a specific moment of activity and confirm the exact location where an individual stood or moved.

From Science Daily ● Nov. 13, 2025

But which sedimentary rock is that metamorphic rock derived from, hmm?

From Slate ● Jan. 12, 2024

Except for the igneous outcropping in which the mine is located, this whole valley is sedimentary rock, probably for a depth of several hundred feet.

From The Blue Ghost Mystery by Harold L. (Harold Leland) Goodwin

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023