gangue

noun

: the worthless rock or vein matter in which valuable metals or minerals occur

Examples of gangue in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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What’s more, China already has the industrial base to use waste materials like fly ash and gangue as a viable resource for metals. Christopher McFadden, Interesting Engineering, 24 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from French, going back to Middle French, borrowed from German Gang "walk, course, passageway, mineral vein or seam," going back to Old High German gang "walk, course" — more at gang entry 1

First Known Use

1809, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gangue was in 1809

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Cite this Entry

“Gangue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gangue. Accessed 6 Jun. 2026.

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