onyx

noun

on·​yx ˈä-niks How to pronounce onyx (audio)
: a translucent chalcedony in parallel layers of different colors

Examples of onyx in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Newest addition to Faena is Qui’s intimate, six-seater El Secreto Omakase dining room - walls are suitably lined with speakeasy black onyx. Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 15 Apr. 2026 The Secret Garden necklace, inlaid with onyx, also includes a smattering of smaller diamond, emerald, and purple sapphire stones. Hannah Malach, InStyle, 13 Apr. 2026 Instead, buyers will pay more for kitchens with stone countertops, like soapstone, quartz, and onyx. Natasha Bazika, Martha Stewart, 10 Apr. 2026 Upstairs, Polish artist and designer Zofia Sobolewska Ursic is slicing white onyx into ribbons alongside the workshop’s master technicians. Sarah Medford, Architectural Digest, 8 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for onyx

Word History

Etymology

Middle English oniche, onyx, from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, from Latin onych-, onyx, from Greek, literally, claw, nail — more at nail

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of onyx was in the 14th century

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Cite this Entry

“Onyx.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/onyx. Accessed 25 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

onyx

noun
on·​yx ˈän-iks How to pronounce onyx (audio)
: chalcedony in parallel layers of different color

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