granite

noun

gran·​ite ˈgra-nət 

1

: a very hard natural igneous rock formation of visibly crystalline texture formed essentially of quartz and orthoclase or microcline and used especially for building and for monuments

2

: unyielding firmness or endurance

… the cold granite of Puritan formalism.

—V. L. Parrington

granitelike

ˈgra-nət-ˌlīk 

adjective

granitic

gra-ˈni-tik 

adjective

granitoid

ˈgra-nə-ˌtȯid 

adjective

Synonyms of granite

• decision
• determination
• decisiveness
• resolve

Examples of granite in a Sentence

had the granite to see the project out to the end

Recent Examples on the Web

The kitchen is New York City narrow but has been redone with black-granite countertops and a Subzero fridge. —Clio Chang, Curbed, 3 Nov. 2025

No mortar affixes the massive pink granite blocks to one another. —Ryan Knighton, AFAR Media, 31 Oct. 2025

In the kitchen, her cousin shakes up a few lemon drops as her manager waits for a drink at the granite counter. —Alphonse Pierre, Pitchfork, 30 Oct. 2025

Today, Beck estimates 37 truckloads of granite have arrived at Kinstone. —Madeline Heim, jsonline.com, 30 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Italian granito, from past participle of granire to granulate, from grano grain, from Latin granum

First Known Use

1646, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for granite

• gannet
• planet
• intranet
• pomegranate

Kids Definition

granite

noun

gran·​ite ˈgran-ət 

1

: a very hard rock that can be polished and is used in buildings and monuments

2

: unyielding firmness (as of character, will, or opinion)