: a usually amorphous mineral that is a hydrated silica softer and less dense than quartz and typically with definite and often marked iridescent play of colors and is used especially as a gem
Examples of opal in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
In the Victorian era, opal got cancelled, in part, because the novelist Sir Walter Scott created a character who died while wearing one.
—
Paige Williams, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2025
Swifties searching for clues to the album think that song might have special meaning for Travis, whose birthstone is opal.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 27 Aug. 2025
The brand was founded in 2004 and features an array of gold jewelry with diamonds, opals, sapphires and more, according to the Downtown Naperville Alliance website.
—Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2025
Our first appointment was at Osprey, a small shop on Rue Saint-Honoré that sells everything from pearls to opals to gemstones.
—Simon Turner, Vogue, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for opal
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.
Paige Williams, New Yorker, 29 Aug. 2025
Swifties searching for clues to the album think that song might have special meaning for Travis, whose birthstone is opal.
—Lisa Gutierrez, Kansas City Star, 27 Aug. 2025
The brand was founded in 2004 and features an array of gold jewelry with diamonds, opals, sapphires and more, according to the Downtown Naperville Alliance website.
—Carolyn Stein, Chicago Tribune, 8 July 2025
Our first appointment was at Osprey, a small shop on Rue Saint-Honoré that sells everything from pearls to opals to gemstones.
—Simon Turner, Vogue, 2 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for opal
Cite this Entry
“Opal.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/opal. Accessed 8 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
opal
noun
: a mineral with changeable colors that is used as a gem
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share