ceramic

1 of 2

adjective

ce·​ram·​ic sə-ˈra-mik 

especially British kə-

: of or relating to the manufacture of any product (such as earthenware, porcelain, or brick) made essentially from a nonmetallic mineral (such as clay) by firing at a high temperature

also : of or relating to such a product

ceramic

2 of 2

noun

1

ceramics sə-ˈra-miks 

especially British kə-

plural in form but singular in construction : the art or process of making ceramic articles

2

: a product of ceramic manufacture

Examples of ceramic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

These are Chinese, of course, and are made by coating duck eggs in a paste of salt, wood ash, lime, and black tea and burying them among rice husks in huge ceramic jars for 100 days. —Jeffrey Steingarten, Vogue, 5 Apr. 2026

Nearby, the fireplace’s green ceramic tiles provide a grounding effect, while still sticking to the space’s technicolor agenda. —Ludovica Stevan, Architectural Digest, 5 Apr. 2026

Noun

This shop is full of beautiful ceramics, made in the heart of Paris for 30 years. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Apr. 2026

Archaeologists discovered bottles, ceramics, basketry, and even a human jawbone among the wreckage. —Maria Mocerino, Interesting Engineering, 5 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Greek keramikos, from keramos potter's clay, pottery

First Known Use

Adjective

1850, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1859, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for ceramic

• dynamic
• thalamic
• aerodynamic
• geodynamic
• haemodynamic
• hemodynamic
• hydrodynamic
• hypothalamic
• photodynamic
• psychodynamic
• spinothalamic
• thermodynamic

Kids Definition

ceramic

1 of 2 adjective

ce·​ram·​ic sə-ˈram-ik 

: of or relating to the manufacture of a product (as earthenware, porcelain, or brick) made from a nonmetallic mineral by heating at high temperatures

ceramic

2 of 2 noun

1

plural : the art of making ceramic articles

2

: a product of ceramic manufacture