granodiorite

noun

grano·​di·​o·​rite ˌgra-nō-ˈdī-ə-ˌrīt How to pronounce granodiorite (audio)
: a granular intrusive quartzose igneous rock intermediate between granite and quartz-containing diorite with plagioclase predominant over orthoclase
granodioritic
ˌgra-nō-ˌdī-ə-ˈri-tik How to pronounce granodiorite (audio)
adjective

Examples of granodiorite in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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.
These areas of silica-rich magma cooled into rocks like tonalite and granodiorite (close cousins to granite) and suddenly the Earth's surface wasn't just basalt. — Erik Klemetti, Discover Magazine, 31 Jan. 2023 The key to this centuries-old dilemma was an unassuming slab of granodiorite unearthed in Egypt in July 1799. — Meilan Solly, Smithsonian Magazine, 27 Sep. 2022 This 2,100-year-old block of granodiorite is among the most important objects in Mediterranean history. — The Editorial Board, WSJ, 30 Nov. 2022

Word History

First Known Use

1893, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of granodiorite was in 1893

Rhymes for granodiorite

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Browse Nearby Words

granoblastic
granodiorite
granogabbro
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Cite this Entry

“Granodiorite.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/granodiorite. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on granodiorite

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about granodiorite

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