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

Canden Arciniega shuffled on the hot granite terrace on a mid-August morning, counting the names on her list. — Sophia Solano, Washington Post, 20 Aug. 2026

Trump’s desire, which is to coat the granite facade with white paint, has been met with significant pushback from historians who say that covering the historic building’s granite exterior with paint could trap moisture and damage the stone. — News Desk, Artforum, 19 Aug. 2026

Trump had some of the construction workers sign the granite, too, and joked about leaving it upside-down so that his signature would be visible for future generations. — ABC News, 19 Aug. 2026

Fort Sumter was built on an island constructed from 50,000 tons of granite shipped from New York and New England. — Caitlin McGlade, Charlotte Observer, 19 Aug. 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)