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
Recent Examples on the Web
Atop extra-thick paper Felsenthal layers the paint into precise lurches, not unlike Vija Celmins’s graphite oceans.
—
Grace Edquist, Vogue, 8 Jan. 2025
The Defense Department in recent years has highlighted U.S. strategic vulnerabilities because of China’s dominance of the mining and refining of critical minerals, including graphite and lithium needed for batteries, and rare-earth metals used in both EV motors and military aircraft.
—Andrea Shalal, USA TODAY, 7 Jan. 2025
The 2018 is purple hued in the glass with aromas of graphite, cassis, and blackberry.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 12 Dec. 2024
It’s made of uranium, carbon, and oxygen encapsulated in graphite kernels the size of a poppy seed.
—IEEE Spectrum, 10 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for graphite 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Grace Edquist, Vogue, 8 Jan. 2025
The Defense Department in recent years has highlighted U.S. strategic vulnerabilities because of China’s dominance of the mining and refining of critical minerals, including graphite and lithium needed for batteries, and rare-earth metals used in both EV motors and military aircraft.
—Andrea Shalal, USA TODAY, 7 Jan. 2025
The 2018 is purple hued in the glass with aromas of graphite, cassis, and blackberry.
—Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 12 Dec. 2024
It’s made of uranium, carbon, and oxygen encapsulated in graphite kernels the size of a poppy seed.
—IEEE Spectrum, 10 Dec. 2024
See all Example Sentences for graphite
Dictionary Entries Near graphite
Cite this Entry
“Graphite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/graphite. Accessed 19 Jan. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share