lignite

noun

lig·​nite ˈlig-ˌnīt 

: a usually brownish black coal intermediate between peat and bituminous coal

especially : one in which the texture of the original wood is distinct

called also brown coal

lignitic

lig-ˈni-tik 

adjective

Examples of lignite in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Gallium and germanium are byproducts of other ores – zinc for gallium, lignite coal for germanium. —Scott L. Montgomery, The Conversation, 11 Mar. 2025

That system now has an annual throughput of more than 7 billion metric tons of hard coal and lignite, about 4 billion metric tons of crude oil, and more than 3 trillion cubic meters of natural gas. —IEEE Spectrum, 28 June 2012

The measure also requires plants that use lignite coal to meet the same mercury emissions standards as facilities firing other types of coal. —Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 4 Oct. 2024

Countries do want to get rid of coal, especially the more polluting lignite variety. —Alicia Adamczyk, Fortune Europe, 9 July 2024

Word History

Etymology

French, from Latin lignum

First Known Use

circa 1808, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for lignite

• affright
• airtight
• albite
• alight
• alright
• aplite
• aright
• bainite
• birthright
• bobwhite
• bornite
• bullfight

Kids Definition

lignite

noun

lig·​nite ˈlig-ˌnīt 

: a usually brownish black coal between peat and bituminous coal in age and heating ability

especially : one in which the texture of the original wood is distinct