spinel

noun

spi·​nel spə-ˈnel 

variants or spinelle

1

: a hard crystalline mineral consisting of an oxide of magnesium and aluminum that varies from colorless to ruby red to black and is used as a gem

2

: any of a group of minerals that are essentially oxides of magnesium, ferrous iron, zinc, or manganese

Examples of spinel in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Throughout, her eye for color shone in gradients of blues comprising tanzanites, sapphires and blue-green tourmalines, or pink ones playing off rubellites, pink spinels and spessartite garnets. —Lily Templeton, Footwear News, 20 Feb. 2026

Alongside signature pink diamonds in a geometric bangle and the largest near-spherical natural pearl in the world, accented with fancy colored diamonds, the Abacus bangle blazed blue with Paraiba tourmalines, cobalt spinels and firey white diamonds. —Kate Matthams, Forbes.com, 13 Feb. 2026

This necklace, which can also be worn as a tiara, dates back to the early nineteenth century and is composed of diamonds, rubies and spinels, mounted on a gold and silver structure. —Marta Martínez Tato, Vanity Fair, 30 Jan. 2026

At front of the crown sits the aforementioned Cullinan II, above which sits a massive red spinel known as the Black Prince's Ruby. —Emma Banks, InStyle, 7 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Italian spinella, diminutive of spina thorn, from Latin

First Known Use

1528, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing spinel

• ruby spinel