cinder block

noun

: a hollow rectangular building block made of cement and coal cinders

Examples of cinder block 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.
Earlier this month, one of those men had a hearing inside a small cinder block courtroom in Rowan County, almost an hour away from Charlotte. — Julia Coin october 1, Charlotte Observer, 1 Oct. 2026 Conley’s double-wide trailer in Kentucky is elevated on cinder blocks. — Michael Phillis, Los Angeles Times, 30 Sep. 2026 The gurney used for lethal injections sits in a small cinder block building at the Georgia Diagnostic and Classification State Prison in Jackson. — Adam Beam, AJC.com, 9 Sep. 2026 John’s little motorbike proves no match for the large truck commandeered by the T-1000, which blasts through a cinder block wall at one point. — ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cinder block

Word History

First Known Use

1922, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of cinder block was in 1922

Rhymes for cinder block

See All Rhymes for cinder block

Browse Nearby Words

cinder
cinder block
cinder concrete
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cinder block.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cinder%20block. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

cinder block

noun
: a building block made of cement and coal cinders
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of inscrutable

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

The Words of the Week - Oct. 9

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

Do You Need a New Language Peeve?

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
a cup of tea and a golf ball on tee side by side
Quiz: Sounds Like... Choose the word that sounds like it fits the clue...
See All