shale

noun

: a fissile rock that is formed by the consolidation of clay, mud, or silt, has a finely stratified or laminated structure, and is composed of minerals essentially unaltered since deposition
shaley adjective
or less commonly shaly

Examples of shale in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The natural rate of decline in output from the world's oil and gas fields is speeding up, owing to more reliance on shale and deep offshore resources, the International Energy Agency said on Tuesday. Seher Dareen, Reuters, 15 Sep. 2025 Four hundred and fifty million years ago, vast continents collided, squeezing shale into schist to form Coogan’s Bluff, in Highbridge Park, in northern Manhattan. D. T. Max, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025 Sedona’s superstars are its vivid sandstone, limestone, shale and basalt formations, sculpted by millions of years of geologic tumult. New York Times, 10 Sep. 2025 Energy prices have also fallen, adding risk to export prospects for the Vaca Muerta shale field—one of Argentina’s few hopes for escaping chronic hard currency shortages that trigger balance-of-payments crises. Agustino Fontevecchia, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2025 See All Example Sentences for shale

Word History

Etymology

probably from obsolete or dialect shale scale, shell, from Middle English, from Old English scealu — more at shell

First Known Use

1747, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of shale was in 1747

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Shale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shale. Accessed 16 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

shale

noun
: a rock with a fine grain formed from clay, mud, or silt
shaley adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on shale

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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