nugget

noun

nug·​get ˈnə-gət 

1

: a solid lump

especially : a native lump of precious metal

2

: tidbit sense 2

nuggets of wisdom

3

: a small usually rounded piece of food

chicken nuggets

Synonyms of nugget

• mouthful
• bite
• taste
• nibble

Examples of nugget in a Sentence

nuggets of beef in the chow mein

a seemingly inconsequential nugget of information that proved to be the key to cracking the case

Recent Examples on the Web

On the team pages, there are paragraphs devoted to every position, forecasts for both sides of the ball, nuggets to help set the stage for each game, and the past five years’ results, complete with the line. — Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 21 Aug. 2026

Back in the early 1980s, amid a volatile chicken market, McDonald’s needed help pricing its nuggets and limiting the risk of menu price fluctuations. — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 18 Aug. 2026

Meals such as buffalo chicken mac and cheese, cheeseburger bowls, Cajun chicken pasta, pancakes, pizza bowls and even chicken nuggets are ensured to be nutritious and healthy, Schuler said. — Shannon Tyler, Idaho Statesman, 17 Aug. 2026

Then the frantic scramble to find out more, share the story, pass judgement, analyse, and, for the really creative few, produce that nugget of information that offers genuine insight — or failing that, generates a healthy supply of clicks and likes. — Gregg Evans, New York Times, 15 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1851, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

nugget

noun

nug·​get ˈnəg-ət 

: a solid lump especially of precious metal