nugget

noun

nug·​get ˈnə-gət How to pronounce nugget (audio)
Synonyms of nugget
1
: a solid lump
especially : a native lump of precious metal
2
: tidbit sense 2
nuggets of wisdom
3
: a small usually rounded piece of food
chicken nuggets

Synonyms of nugget

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Examples of nugget in a Sentence

nuggets of beef in the chow mein a seemingly inconsequential nugget of information that proved to be the key to cracking the case
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.
More reading Here’s our look at 10 news, notes, quotes and nuggets on Portis. — Anthony Chiang, Miami Herald, 1 July 2026 Key to those dark thought experiments were the nuggets of insight that accompanied them. — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 30 June 2026 No date marking was labeled on a container of cooked chicken nuggets or on raw chicken and raw beef inside the walk-in cooler. — Joseph Hernandez, Kansas City Star, 29 June 2026 An Instagram post teasing the return of the nuggets prompted excitement among nostalgic fans. — Chiara Kim, PEOPLE, 24 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for nugget

Word History

Etymology

origin unknown

First Known Use

1851, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of nugget was in 1851

Browse Nearby Words

nuggar
nugget
nugget gold
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Nugget.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nugget. Accessed 10 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

nugget

noun
nug·​get ˈnəg-ət How to pronounce nugget (audio)
: a solid lump especially of precious metal

More from Merriam-Webster on nugget

Nglish: Translation of nugget for Spanish Speakers

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