1
: a soft black lustrous form of carbon that conducts electricity and is used in lead pencils and electrolytic anodes, as a lubricant, and as a moderator in nuclear reactors
2
: a composite material in which carbon fibers are the reinforcing material
Examples of graphite in a Sentence
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The system is said to work better than the graphite sheets used in iPhones to reduce temperature.
—
David Phelan, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
With its diverse geological zones, Ukraine holds more than 5% of the world's total mineral resources and is a top 10 global provider for coveted minerals like graphite, lithium and titanium.
—Stephen J. Beard, USA Today, 10 May 2025
According to the European Union, Greenland has great untapped potential for 25 of the 34 minerals identified in the Union’s official list of raw materials, including rare earth elements, graphite, platinum group metals, and niobium.
—IEEE Spectrum, 8 May 2025
Ukraine also has lithium, graphite and manganese, which are used in electric vehicle batteries.
—Samya Kullab and Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2025
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David Phelan, Forbes.com, 24 June 2025
With its diverse geological zones, Ukraine holds more than 5% of the world's total mineral resources and is a top 10 global provider for coveted minerals like graphite, lithium and titanium.
—Stephen J. Beard, USA Today, 10 May 2025
According to the European Union, Greenland has great untapped potential for 25 of the 34 minerals identified in the Union’s official list of raw materials, including rare earth elements, graphite, platinum group metals, and niobium.
—IEEE Spectrum, 8 May 2025
Ukraine also has lithium, graphite and manganese, which are used in electric vehicle batteries.
—Samya Kullab and Hanna Arhirova, Los Angeles Times, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for graphite
Cite this Entry
“Graphite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/graphite. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
graphite
noun
graph·ite
ˈgraf-ˌīt 
: a soft shiny black carbon that is used in making lead pencils and as a dry lubricant
Medical Definition
graphite
noun
graph·ite
ˈgraf-ˌīt
: carbon of a soft black lustrous form that conducts electricity and is used in lead pencils and electrolytic anodes, as a lubricant, and as a moderator in nuclear reactors
called also plumbago
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