shale

noun

ˈshāl 

: a fissile rock that is formed by the consolidation of clay, mud, or silt, has a finely stratified or laminated structure, and is composed of minerals essentially unaltered since deposition

shaley adjective

or less commonly shaly

ˈshā-lē 

Examples of shale in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The company has long been viewed as one of the better-run names in the shale patch, known for its disciplined capital allocation. —Michael Khouw, CNBC, 13 Apr. 2026

Over time, the harder rock layers, like sandstone, eroded much more slowly than the softer shale beneath them. —Anthony Fredericks, Travel + Leisure, 12 Apr. 2026

Courtesy of a convergence of the AI data center power wave, rapidly growing export facilities, and population growth, the nation’s natural gas pipeline buildout is looking at its biggest growth surge in nearly 20 years—since the beginning of the shale gas boom. —Jordan Blum, Fortune, 11 Apr. 2026

The refuse pile consisted of coal waste, carbonaceous shale, and coal ash. —Logan Smith, CBS News, 11 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

probably from obsolete or dialect shale scale, shell, from Middle English, from Old English scealu — more at shell

First Known Use

1747, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing shale

• oil shale
• shale oil

Rhymes for shale

• ail
• ale
• bail
• baile
• dail
• fail
• flail
• frail
• gael
• gail
• grail
• hail

Kids Definition

shale

noun

ˈshā(ə)l 

: a rock with a fine grain formed from clay, mud, or silt

shaley

ˈshā-lē 

adjective