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

Bathrooms are finished in gray granite with Le Labo Santal 33 amenities and Dyson hair dryers. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 27 Feb. 2026

To disassociate Braunau from Hitler’s legacy, the town government in 1989 placed a granite block from the Mauthausen concentration camp quarry before the building, inscribed with a memorial to the victims of fascism. —Cary Lowe, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Feb. 2026

Just avoid using vinegar products on marble or granite worktops or kitchen cabinets that have been sealed with wax. —Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 26 Feb. 2026

Other options include gravel, river rocks and crushed granite, which all have texture built in and feel integrated with the natural environment. —Kelley Bruss, Dallas Morning News, 26 Feb. 2026

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)